3 Phogat sisters allowed to enter wrestling camp, Babita ignored
There was some respite for the Phogat sisters Geeta, Ritu and Sangeeta after they were allowed to enter the wrestling camp for the upcoming Asian Games. However, Babita Phogat still remains barred from entering the national camp. The sisters were suspended on grounds of indiscipline. The wrestlers have been training in Sports Authority of India (SAI) centres in Lucknow and Sonepat.
The three Phogat sisters were allowed to return after they submitted written explanations on why they didn't attend the women's camp in Lucknow. Babita was not allowed since the body didn't find her clarification suitable. She had cited nursing a knee injury as the reason.
The decision by the WFI has put Babita in a fix, especially since it comes ahead of Asian Games. She had clarified that she was heading to Bengaluru for rehabilitation therapy but her explanation was quashed. It's likely that the wrestler will not be allowed to take part in the selection trials for the Asian Games. The Games will be held in August.
WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has stated that six wrestlers (out of 15 who were suspended) will not be re-joining the camps. Besides Babita, this list includes the likes of Pooja Tomar, Manju, Anju, Kamini and men's 61 kg freestyle category wrestler Shravan.
The selected wrestlers were required to report to the camp within three days. In case, they couldn't do so, the rule was to inform their coaches and find a solution. However, the offenders went incommunicado. This reckless behavior irked WFI and it pulled the plug. WFI president had then stated that the offenders had not taken the camp seriously.
