Well, here we are again, back on the rollercoaster of Indian wrestling politics, with more twists and turns than a Bollywood thriller. So, let's buckle up and dive headfirst into the drama, keeping in mind all the major facts, figures, and, most importantly, those juicy tweets that the wrestling world can't get enough of.

Our dear wrestling heroes, or should we call them opportunistic performers, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia, have recently put up identical tweets. And no, they didn't coordinate their outfits for a photo op. They instead tweeted that the government finally came through with filing a chargesheet against Singh, the Wrestling Federation of India chief. "About time," one would say, and indeed it is, given the public unrest stirred up by the allegations.

They waxed eloquent, stating in the tweets, "As per the talks held on June 7, the government has implemented our demands. The Delhi Police on June 15 had submitted before court the chargesheet after conducting probe into allegations of sexual harassment on basis of FIR filed by six women wrestlers. Now, the fight will continue in court and not on roads till justice is delivered". A clear call to arms, but with the battlefield shifted to the courtrooms rather than the usual protest-ridden streets. It's refreshing to see a change in scenery, don't you think?

In the same thread of 140 characters or less, they mentioned, “The process for fresh Wrestling Federation of India election has begun. The polls are scheduled to be held on July 11 as promised by the government. We will wait for the implementation of the promise.” A sigh of relief followed the tweets, for the wrestling world at least, a light at the end of the political tunnel.

Phogat and Malik then played their version of 'hide and seek' by announcing a short break from social media. Of course, the timing for this sabbatical is a little too convenient, falling right in the middle of the political uproar. If that isn't the textbook definition of drama, I don't know what is.

This drama comes hot on the heels of the wrestlers being moved from their protest spot at Jantar Mantar on May 28, after an impressive 38-day stretch. Having earned massive support from farmer leaders, khap panchayats, and several other organizations, they decided to suspend their protest until June 15. All this in response to a promise by Union sports minister Anurag Thakur that a chargesheet would be filed against BJP MP Singh by then, and none of his family members would be allowed to contest WFI elections.

They originally arrived at Jantar Mantar on January 18, having their three-day sit-in suspended when Thakur promised to investigate their allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation against 66-year-old Singh, a six-time BJP MP. It's also worth noting the less than flattering attitude these 'heroes' have displayed towards senior PT Usha and others, revealing a serious lack of respect for their predecessors. Ah, the charm of opportunistic politics.

So, there you have it, a detailed rundown of the ongoing political saga that has engulfed Indian wrestling. What a time to be alive! Now, back to watching this unfold, with a side of popcorn, of course.

Outrage Grows as Coaches and Parents Demand Withdrawal of Exemption Given to Six Wrestlers

Introduction: The decision by the IOA ad-hoc panel to grant exemptions to six wrestlers, including Sangeeta Phogat, Satywart Kadian, and Jitender Kinha, has triggered a wave of criticism from the wrestling fraternity. Coaches and parents of established and upcoming wrestlers have come forward to voice their demand for the withdrawal of these exemptions, asserting that the selection process for prestigious events such as the Asian Games and World Championships must be fair and unbiased. While some wrestlers have seized the opportunity to protest against sexual harassment, the questionable exemptions have raised eyebrows and sparked sarcasm towards those perceived as opportunists.

Exemptions and Accusations: The IOA ad-hoc panel's decision to grant exemptions to Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and three others has drawn severe backlash. What has particularly riled the wrestling community is the inclusion of Kinha, Sangeeta, Sakshi, and her husband Satyawart, who have not consistently demonstrated the same level of performance and selection success as their peers. Dissatisfaction was expressed by an anonymous Maharashtra wrestler who questioned the placement of Jitender directly in the final despite his lack of success in trials over the past two years. Similarly, Sakshi struggled against emerging talent Sonam Malik in recent 62kg trials, further fueling discontent.

Demand for Fair Trials: Coaches and parents of wrestlers have vehemently argued that trials for prestigious events like the Asian Games and World Championships must be conducted with absolute fairness, without any bias. Dayanand Kalkal, coach of rising star Sujeet, Anshu Malik and Sonam Malik's fathers, and Vikas Bhardwaj, coach of U-20 world champion Antim Panghal, have openly denounced the IOA panel's decision. Kalkal conveyed his concerns to Mr. Bhupender Singh Bajwa, the head of the WFI ad-hoc panel, highlighting the importance of fair trials and received assurances that the exemptions would be reconsidered. However, when contacted, Bajwa remained unresponsive.

Importance of Unbiased Trials: The wrestling community stresses that trials for events like the Asian Games, which occur every four years, and the World Championships, which carry Olympic qualification implications, hold immense significance. Therefore, any scope for bias is deemed unacceptable. Dharmendra Malik, father of world championship silver medalist Anshu, asserted that the exemptions granted to the six wrestlers were fundamentally flawed, given the high stakes involved. He pointed out the irony of those who had previously protested for justice now inflicting injustice on other wrestlers. He emphasized the principle that all wrestlers should compete on equal terms, and weaker wrestlers can only improve by challenging stronger opponents.

Ensuring Equal Opportunities: Rajender Malik, father of Sonam Malik, who secured a spot in the Tokyo Olympics, expressed his view that any wrestler who triumphs in the trials should be guaranteed participation in at least the Asian Games. He advocated for a fair system where the winner of the first trial automatically secures their spot, with the second trial determining participation in the World Championships. This approach, he argued, would provide a fair and transparent process. Antim's coach, Bhardwaj, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the lack of acceptance for the IOA panel's decision and promising to join the protest against it.

Conclusion: The demand for the withdrawal of exemptions given to six wrestlers has gained significant traction within the wrestling fraternity. Coaches and parents are united in their plea for fair trials, emphasizing the importance of equal opportunities and the need to avoid any bias or favoritism in the selection process. As the wrestling community awaits a response from the IOA, the controversy surrounding these exemptions serves as a stark reminder that integrity and transparency must be upheld to ensure the continued growth and success of the sport.