Bajrang Punia and Ravi Dahiya, both medalists at the Tokyo Games, saw their hopes for qualification in the Paris Olympics dashed as they were eliminated from contention during the selection trials for upcoming international tournaments on March 10, Sunday.
Punia, a vocal protester against former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, faced a significant setback with a 1-9 defeat in the men’s freestyle 65kg semifinal against Rohit Kumar. If not for a caution point conceded by Ravinder in the bout, Punia would have been eliminated in the opening round.
Despite winning a case in the Delhi High Court asserting that the suspended Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) lacked authority to conduct trials, Punia left the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre promptly after his elimination. NADA officials attempted to collect a dope test sample from him, but he did not stay for the third-fourth place bout.
In the men’s 57kg category, organized in Nordic format, Tokyo Games silver medalist Ravi Dahiya and emerging star Aman Sehrawat were in fierce competition. Dahiya, returning from an injury, lost a high-scoring opening bout 13-14 to Aman, who had made a name for himself in 2023 with consistent medal wins.
Aman, the Asian Games bronze medalist, successfully resisted a last-minute push from Dahiya to secure a close victory. Dahiya’s subsequent loss to U20 Asian champion Udit led to his elimination. The trial winners will have the opportunity to compete in the Asian and World Olympic Qualifiers. India has secured only one quota for the Paris Games through Antim Panghal in the women’s 53kg category.
