Page 35 - Latest Updates on Asian Games 2026

Here's why Pakistan's Bismah Maroof withdrew from Asian Games 2023

Bismah declined to be part of the Asian Games squad after the organisers refused permission to participating nations to have athletes bring their babies for the Games

Asian Games 2023: No role in selection of athletes - Sports Ministry

Responding to a petition filed by three boxers over their non-selection for the upcoming Asian Games, the Union Sports Ministry on Monday told the Punjab and Haryana High Court it has no role in the selection of athletes for participation in the continental event. World championships silver medallist Amit Panghal, Rohit Mor and Sagar Ahlawat had moved the high court this month against the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) and others after they were left out of the Indian squad for the Asian Games to be held from September 23 to October 8 in China. They had petitioned against BFI's evaluation process for the selection of the Hangzhou Asian Games squad. The petitioners had contended that the selection of sportspersons to represent the country in international events should be by means of selection trials. During the last hearing, the court had sought response from the BFI, the Sports Ministry, Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Sports Authority of India (SAI) and three others. The ...

Asian Games: Vinesh, Bajrang respond to criticism over trials exemption

Facing the wrestling fraternity's wrath for accepting exemption from the Asian Games trials, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia on Monday said they are hurt that young wresters dragged them to the court but are at the same time delighted to see the junior grapplers starting to fight for their rights. The IOA ad-hoc panel conducted trials in all 18 categories for the Hangzhou Games but decided to give direct entries to Bajrang (65kg) and Vinesh (53kg), triggering angry reactions from many in the wrestling fraternity. Junior wresters Antim Panghal and Sujeet Kalkal approached the Delhi High Court, appealing that the exemption be set aside but their petition was dismissed. Both Bajrang and Vinesh, who are abroad at different locations for training, came live on social media to respond to the allegations and recent developments. "We are not against the trials. I can't blame Antim. She is not wrong. She is fighting for her right and we are fighting for our right. She is too young, she does

HC refuses to interfere with trials exemption to wrestlers Vinesh, Bajrang

The Delhi High Court Saturday refused to interfere with the exemption granted to top wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia from Asian Games trials. Justice Subramonium Prasad dismissed the petition by Under-20 World Champion Antim Panghal and Under-23 Asian Champion Sujeet Kalkal against the direct entry allowed to Phogat and Punia to participate in the tournament. Writ petition is dismissed, the judge said. A detailed copy of the order is awaited. Phogat (53kg) and Punia (65kg) were given direct entry for the Asian Games by the Indian Olympic Association's ad-hoc committee on Tuesday, while other wrestlers will have to earn their places in the Indian squad through selection trials on July 22 and 23. Panghal and Kalkal moved the high court on July 19 challenging the exemption and demanded a fair selection process for the quadrennial showpiece event. The petition, moved by advocates Hrishikesh Baruah and Akshay Kumar, had demanded that the directive issued by the IOA ad-hoc ..

Asian Games: Wrestling trials exemption - HC to pronounce order on Saturday

The Delhi High Court on Friday said it will pass an order on July 22 on a challenge to the exemption granted to top wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia from Asian Games trials. Justice Subramonium Prasad reserved verdict on the petition by Under-20 World Champion Antim Panghal and Under-23 Asian Champion Sujeet Kalkal against the direct entry handed to Phogat and Punia. The endeavour of the court is not to find who is better. The endeavour is to see whether the process has been followed or not, the judge said during the proceedings. Phogat (53kg) and Punia (65kg) were given direct entries for the Asian Games by the Indian Olympic Association's ad-hoc committee on Tuesday while other wrestlers will have to book their places in the Indian squad through selection trials on July 22 and 23. Panghal and Kalkal challenged the exemption and demanded a fair selection process for the quadrennial showpiece. The petition, moved by advocates Hrishikesh Baruah and Akshay Kumar, demanded t

Asian Games 2023: Two Ad-hoc panel members favoured two-stage trials

IOA ad-hoc committee panel members Ashok Garg and Gian Singh favoured a two-stage trial to pick the Indian wrestling squad for the Asian Games and did not recommend exemption to any wrestler, it has come to light. Garg and Singh were made members of the IOA ad-hoc panel as technical experts and have been making suggestions to the committee for some time. An undated suggestion circular, signed by both Singh and Garg, explained that they favoured a two-stage trial instead of giving direct entries to six protesting wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat. "The circular was submitted to ad-hoc panel head Bhupender Singh Bajwa," said an ad-hoc panel source. The circular mentions that "trials should be held in the first week of August and if not possible then as soon as possible". It further read that, "If trials are held earlier, then top-3 finishers in six weight categories -- men's freestyle 65kg, 86kg, 97kg and women's 53kg, 62kg and 68kg -- should be pitted against the

Wrestling: Protest against Asian Games trials exemption reaches IOA door

Several junior wrestlers and their families, demanding fair Asian Games trials, carried their protest to the doors of IOA on Thursday and vowed not to leave the headquarters of the apex sports body till exemption given to Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat is withdrawn. The inexplicable delay by the IOA ad-hoc panel in announcing the selection criteria and the subsequent exemption granted to Bajrang and Vinesh had infuriated the wrestling fraternity which termed the decision as unjust and unfair. Wrestlers from training centres in Rohtak (Chhotu Ram Akhada), Narela (Virender Singh's centre), Hisar (Baba Lal Das Akhada) Delhi (Hanuman Akhada and Chhatrasal Satdium), along many senior citizens, including women, belonging to the junior wrestlers gathered at the Olympic Bhawan. Around 100 people gathered outside the Olympic Bhawan and urged IOA Secretary General Kalyan Chaubey to ensure fair trial. The IOA official after a round of meeting with his colleagues met the protesters and assure

Asian Games 2023: Never demanded exemption from trials - Sakshi Malik

Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik on Thursday said she never demanded any exemption from Asian Games trials despite the IOA ad-hoc panel offering to consider her case just like compatriots Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia. She also alleged that the move to exempt Vinesh and Bajrang from trials is an attempt by the government to "break the unity of the wrestlers." Sakshi, who competes in the 62 kg category, along with Vinesh (53 kg) and Bajrang (65 kg), was at the forefront of the protest against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who on Thursday got bail from a Delhi court after the police charge-sheeted him on allegations of sexual harassment. The IOA ad-hoc panel led by Bhupinder Bajwa courted controversy on Tuesday after granting exemptions to Bajrang and Vinesh without following due protocols, forcing U-20 world champion Antim Panghal and 65 kg grappler Sujit Kalkal to approach the Delhi High Court to get the decision overturned. "As you a

HC seeks WFI stand on challenge to Asian Games trial exemption to wrestlers

The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the ad-hoc panel running the affairs of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to state before it the reasons for exempting top wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia from the Asian Games trials. Justice Subramonium Prasad, while hearing a petition by Under-20 World Champion Antim Panghal and Under-23 Asian Champion Sujeet Kalkal against the direct entry granted to Phogat and Punia, asked the sports body to file its response during the day. "If it (basis for selection) is just, fair and reasonable, it is the end of the matter," said the judge as he listed the matter for further hearing on Friday. The court also asked for the laurels won by the two athletes, who have been selected automatically, to be shown to it. During the hearing, the court asked the counsel for the ad-hoc WFI panel to state what was the basis for the selection besides Phogat and Punia being good sportspersons as the entire case of the petitioners was that there has to b

Delhi HC seeks WFI's stand on challenge to Asian Games trials exemption

The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to state before it the basis for the exemption grant to wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia from the Asian Games trials. Justice Subramonium Prasad, while hearing a petition by Under-20 World Champion Antim Panghal and Under-23 Asian Champion Sujeet Kalkal against the direct entry handed to Phogat and Punia, asked the sporting body to file its response during the day. "If it (basis for selection) is just, fair and reasonable, it is the end of the matter," said the judge as he listed the matter for hearing on Friday. The court asked the counsel for the WFI to state what was the basis for selection besides Phogat and Punia being good sportspersons. Phogat (53kg) and Punia (65kg) were given direct entries for the Asian Games by the Indian Olympic Association's ad-hoc committee on Tuesday while other wrestlers will have to book their places in the Indian squad through selection trials on July 22 and ..

Asian Games 2023: Final call on wrestling squad ahead of departure - IOA

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Wednesday said the final assessment of the country's wrestling contingent for the upcoming Asian Games will be made prior to players' departure for China to "maximise the chances of sending the most competitive team". The IOA said in a statement that "the selection process for wrestlers to participate in the Asian Games is designed to be fair, transparent and in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the International Federation (UWW)". IOA statement came after country's promising junior wrestlers moved the Delhi High Court, demanding a fair trial as ad-hoc panel exempted Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat from Asian Games trials. However IOA officials did not elaborate if assessment will be relevant after sending entries. Several calls to IOA officials went unanswered. "The Selection Committee, comprising experienced officials and experts, has recently published the norms for selection of wrestlers, so that the entry process of the team .

Sujeet slams IOA committee for granting trial exemption to Bajrang Punia

The reigning U23 Asian champion Sujeet Kalkal on Wednesday slammed the IOA ad-hoc committee for granting direct entry to Bajrang Punia for the Asian Games, saying it was unfair on the next generation wrestlers who aspire to become Olympic champions. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) ad-hoc panel, led by Bhupender Singh Bajwa, on Tuesday exempted Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang (65kg freestyle) Vinesh Phogat (53kg) from the Asian Games trials on July 22-23 here. Kalkal, the U20 world championship bronze medallist, said that there are at least 5-6 wrestlers in the 65kg freestyle category who are capable of beating Bajrang. "I had wrestled with Bajrang a year back during the (Birmingham) Commonwealth Games trials, which was very close. During the trials, Bajrang was handed a direct semifinals entry and we had to contest all the bouts," said Kalkal, the reigning senior national champion and last year's Junior Asian gold medallist. Proving his point further, Kalkal said he had

Antim on Vinesh's exemption from trials: What is so special about her?

Reigning Under-20 World Champion Antim Panghal on Wednesday questioned the Asian Games trials exemption given to to Vinesh Phogat, asserting that not just she but many other Indian wrestlers are capable of beating the celebrated grappler in the 53kg category. Vinesh (53kg) and Bajrang Punia (65kg) were given direct entries for the Asian Games by the Indian Olympic Association's ad-hoc committee on Tuesday while other wrestlers will have to book their places in the Indian squad through selection trials on July 22 and 23. The 19-year-old Panghal, who hails from Hisar in Haryana and competes in 53kg, asked why Vinesh has been selected when she has not been practicing for long. Panghal, who is a silver medallist from the senior Asian Championship, asked the criteria for exemption through a video. "Vinesh Phogat has received direct entry for the Asian Games, when she had not done any practice in the last one year. She doesn't have any achievement in the last one year," Panghal said in t

Asian Games 2023: Why wrestlers Vinesh, Bajrang get exemption for trials?

Bajrang secured Bronze in Tokyo Olympics and Belgrade's Worlds while Vinesh had a podium finish in the same worlds

Asian Games 2023: Indian football teams may get govt clearance - Report

With Kalyan Chaubey at the helm of affairs at AIFF, he could convince the government to make an exception for the Hangzhou Asian Games in China, which begins on September 23.

Asian Games 2023: Football coach Igor Stimac's emotional appeal to PM Modi

In a heartfelt letter shared on Twitter, Stimac requested PM Modi to allow football to participate in the Asian Games, saying, 'We will fight for our nation's pride and the flag!

Win gold, stand on podium, sing national anthem: Ruturaj's ultimate dream

India's newly appointed captain for the cricket team at the Asian Games, Ruturaj Giakwad's ultimate dream is to win the gold, stand on the podium and sing the national anthem

Asian Games 2023: Gaikwad to lead India in men's cricket - full squad

In addition to IPL star Rinku Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad was selected as captain of India's team for the Asian Games in Hangzhou on Friday.

Asian Games 2023: Kaur to lead India in women's cricket event - full squad

With India expected to win a women's cricket event medal, BCCI put forward one of the strongest squad for the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.

Asian Games: Women wrestlers write to PM Modi, IOA, SAI for fair trials

Several women wrestlers, including medal winners from Commonwealth Games and Asian Championship, on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the ad-hoc panel running the WFI, requesting "fair trials" for Asian Games amidst reports that the six protesting grapplers may be given exemption. The 24 women wrestlers from Sir Chhotu Ram Akhada in Rohtak, who also wrote to SAI Director General Sandeep Pradhan, have conveyed that they won't accept two-stage trial or any another relaxation given to the protesting grapplers. The IOA-appointed ad-hoc panel has announced that Asian Games trials will be held on July 22-23 but did not reveal the criteria. The wrestlers are even preparing to hit the roads for a fresh protest and approach the judiciary if any discriminatory decision is taken by the IOA ad-hoc committee. Panel head Bhupender Singh Bajwa had on June 16 conveyed to the six protesting wrestlers -- Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Mali