Wrestlers face action for forfeiting bouts at Rio Olympics qualifier

At least four Indian wrestlers who took part in the just-concluded Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, could be banned.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is set to issue showcause notices to Sumit, freestyle wrestler in 125 kg category, and sisters, Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari, for failing to appear for their bouts after their attempts to win Olympic berths ended in the previous rounds.

Rahul Aware too is facing action for leaving the team when it was travelling to Georgia for the training camp ahead of the tournament. Alleging bias towards Sandeep Tomar, Aware left from the airport.

Tomar went on to seal India’s fourth quota by winning the bronze medal play-off on the last day of the event to save the contingent the blushes.

Vinesh, who was disqualified for being 400 gm overweight during the weigh-in for the 48 kg category, will be issued a warning.

“We have asked the coaches to send their reports based on which we will send the notices,” a source told HT.

The wrestlers will be given 10 days to respond to the charges. If found guilty, sentences ranging from a year’s ban to life ban could be slapped.

Sumit went missing ahead of his repechage bout against Bulgaria’s Lyuben Borisov. A win would have got the heavyweight grappler into the bronze-medal fight. He forfeited the match under ‘injury default’.

Efforts are on to get him back from the Indian team’s training base in Tiblisi, Georgia, where it travelled from Ulaanbaatar. This means he won’t be eligible to compete in the 2nd Olympic World Qualifying Tournament in Istanbul, Turkey, from May 6-8.

London Games Olympian and World Championship medal winner, Geeta forfeited her 53 kg repechage bout against China’s Zhou Zhangting under ‘injury default’. Babita gave up her bout against Mexico’s Alma Jane Valencia Escoto.

The top-three finishers in freestyle and Greco-Roman disciplines and finalists of the women’s wrestling event were assured of Rio berths.