Heat, chaos and assault on referee
Malik banned for life for slapping official, absence of A/C leaves wrestlers gasping at CWG selection trials
NEW DELHI: The men’s wrestling trials for the Commonwealth Games at the Indira Gandhi Stadium here witnessed chaotic scenes on and off the mat on Tuesday. Inside, it was a cauldron with wrestlers sweating buckets and gasping for breath after bouts in the absence of airconditioning at the KD Jadhav wrestling hall.
Tempers were flying in the oppressive heat with much at stake for the wrestlers fighting for a spot in the India squad for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Many of them were competing in three to four bouts in short intervals and scurried to stand before a handful of pedestal fans spread across the three mats. The stands were filled with hundreds of fans who came to watch Tokyo Olympic medallists Ravi Dahiya and Bajrang Punia in action.
Adding to this chaos was an assault on referee Jagbir Singh by Services wrestler Satender Malik after losing his 125kg final. Malik, who lost to Mohit (3-3 on criteria) after losing a last-second referral, charged at Jagbir, abusing and attacking him in front of the wrestlers, fans and Wrestling Federation of India officials, including its president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Jagbir, a category I international (UWW) official, fell after Malik slapped him even as other officials rushed to his rescue. A shocked Singh tried to gather himself amid confusion that brought the competition to a standstill.
Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Ravi Dahiya was competing in his final bout against Aman when the ugly scene took place. Dahiya’s bout was stopped and the officials collectively approached the WFI president, asking him to immediately act against Malik. The bouts resumed after a brief delay.
WFI later said it has banned Malik for life and will also write to the Services Sports Control Board to take action. “This sort of behaviour is unacceptable. WFI has decided to impose a life ban on Satender Malik with immediate effect. The referee has also filed an FIR (at the IP Estate Police station),” WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar said. Police arrived at the venue soon after for interrogation.
The freestyle finals were being conducted in two mats and Jagbir wasn’t even officiating the controversial bout. Malik led 3-0 when Mohit’s move on the edge of the mat with 18 secs left turned the tables. Mohit was given only one point for the pushout but he challenged the decision. There was a long delay as the wrestlers waited while the officials watched the replays.
“I was asked to look into the referral so that there is no bias because the wrestler belongs to the same village as the jury chief (Satyadev Malik). I did not see the action but replays clearly showed that one point should be awarded for pushout and two more for takedown. That made it
three points for Mohit, and I indicated it to the WFI president,” Jagbir said.
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh went to the mat and announced the decision, asking for the bout to resume with scores level at 3-3. Mohit won on “criteria”, having scored the last point. As soon as the bout ended, a furious Malik walked to the other mat where Jagbir stood and attacked him. “I have been an international referee since 2007, have just officiated at the senior Asian championships. He came and abused and attacked me. I have never faced such a situation nor have I ever seen any wrestler misbehaving with an official like
this,” said Jagbir.
No A/C in SAI’S hall
The women’s wrestling trials for CWG at Sports Authority of India’s Lucknow centre on Monday was affected due to issues with air-conditioning. The airconditioning in SAI’S premium stadium in the Capital didn’t work even during the March 24 trials for the Asian wrestling championships. This time with the Capital reeling under a heat wave, it made life unbearable for the wrestlers.
“We had informed SAI 20 days before the trials. We don’t know why the A/C is not working,” said a top WFI official on Tuesday.
“How can you hold a competition in such conditions? Look at the wrestlers, we’ve Olympic medallists competing.”
While the likes of Punia and Dahiya waited in their cars till their turn came, other wrestlers huffed and puffed after bouts. Vishal, Punia’s opponent in the final, was so dejected after his narrow 2-1 loss that he punched the wall, the thud heard across the hall. “It is pathetic. This are not conditions to hold trials for an event like the CWG. It is difficult for wrestlers to maintain stamina in this heat. How will they give their best?” said a coach. A stadium official said the A/C suddenly stopped in the morning and that efforts were being made to ensure it operated during the trials for Cadets on Wednesday.
READ: Sakshi, Vinesh, Anshu in women’s wrestling squad