Haryana's Khaps Distance Themselves From The Wrestling Selection Saga

The Haryana Khaps distanced themselves from the wrestler s🔯election dispute for the upcoming Asian Games o☂n Saturday, stating only the national federation can make the decision. 

This was resolved at a Khap panchayat (village council) meeting🐻 in Haryana's Jind district, which was presided over by Om Prakash of Kandela village.

In July, disgruntled wrestlers and their families threatened to skip the Asian Games trials in protest at the exem💞ption granted to Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia (65 kg) and world medalist Vinesh Phogat (53 kg).

Vinesh has since had surgery, and Bajrang has stated that he will follow the verdict of the Khap panchayats🦩.

After cla﷽ims of sexual harassment against🍸 outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the Khaps endorsed Bajrang, Vinesh, and Sakshi Malik. 

"Today's panchayat was solely for the athletes. Concerning the select🍸ion of wrestlers for the Asian Games, Om Prakash stated, "The panchayat has concluded that this is not a matter for the Khaps to decide, and it is for the federation to address.&quo𒁃t;

"Only the athletes' federation (WFI) can make this decision, not the Khap." The Khap panchayat is steering clear of this. Today's Khaps were mostly from the Jind district. We will leave this to the federation, and the Khaps will not𝐆 intervene," he stressed.

The previous two panchayats had been inconclusive. Bajrang, whose d🌠irect entry into the Asian Games sparked the 🌱uproar, did not compete on Saturday.

He has stated that whatever decision the 'Khap panchayat' makes, he &quo💖t;will agree" to.

During their protest against the WFI strongman from Gonda, UP, the wrestlers were supported by the Khap panchayat, farmers, and some top-tier athletes, including reigning Olympic and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra.
(With PTI inputs)