Trouble brewing over wrestling body’s exemptions

NEWDELHI: The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) will take a final call this weekend on national selection trials in three weight categories---men’s 74kg and 65kg and women’s 50kg—for the Asian Games in Jakarta.

The federation is expected to exempt wrestlers in the aforementioned categories from the trials. This decision may not go down well with some grapplers in the camp as it is expected to benefit India’s two-time Olympics medallist Sushil Kumar (74kg). Bajrang Punia (65kg) and Vinesh Phogat (50kg) are the other two wrestlers to be excluded from trials. There is speculation that Sakshi Malik (62kg) will also be exempted.

The WFI generally conducts trials to select national squad for Commonwealth Games or Asian Games. Only in the case of Olympics, grapplers winning quota places represent the country.

SHUBHANKAR FINISHES TIED 20TH; LAHIRI 58TH

FORT WORTH (US): Shubhankar Sharma carded three-under 67 in final round to finish a creditable tied 20th, but compatriot Anirban Lahiri ended far behind at tied 58th spot at the Fort Worth Invitational golf tournament.

The 21-year-old Subhankar had two three-putts on front nine and missed three putts, two of them for pars and one for a bogey, inside seven feet to finish six-under 274 for the week.

Lahiri endured a disappointing weekend here, with rounds of 68-69 to register a total of two-under 268.

Justin Rose continued his fine run as he closed with a six-under 64 and finished at 20-under for a three-stroke victory over defending US Open champion Brooks Koepka.