Exclusive | This is a Misunderstanding: Geeta Phogat on Absence

Geeta Phogat told The Quint she missed the start of the national camp due to an injury.

Geeta Phogat said she is nursing an injury and therefore could not reach the camp in time.

(Photo: Twitter)

Fifteen top Indian wrestlers have been dropped from the national camp for the Asian Games by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) after they failed to report for the camp in time.

Four Phogat sisters, Geeta, Babita, Ritu and Sangeeta, are part of the 15 who have now been reportedly sent show-cause notices by the Federation.

Vinesh Phogat however did report for the camp in time.

The eldest of the Phogat sisters, Geeta however told The Quint that this entire episode is the result of a big misunderstanding.

“I injured my knee in late April and went to Bangalore to get myself checked. I was given an injected and advised rest. I wasn’t able to walk too much so I could not join the camp in time,” she told The Quint.

However, it is my mistake that I did not inform the federation about all this in time. This is not indiscipline from my side, just a misunderstanding.

Geeta Phogat to The Quint

The 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist said that she has been in touch with the federation and that she hoped the matter would be resolved soon. “I have spoken to WFI secretary Vinod Tomar today (17 May) and have explained my situation to him. I have sent him all the documents and even my cancelled air tickets to Lucknow from Saturday. He said he will look into the matter”.

Geeta said her sisters Ritu and Sangeeta had not reached the training camp in Lucknow by the 10 May deadline since they are both traveling to Russia for training soon and are awaiting their visas.

Federation’s Reaction

WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been quoted as saying he would look into any appeals made by the wrestlers, “Let them first come to us and explain the reasons behind their actions. For now they are out of the national camp.”

On being contacted by The Quint, Vinod Tomar confirmed that Geeta’s documents had reached the authorities on Wednesday (16 May) but he added that she only mailed them after being informed about the WFI’s ban on the wrestlers on Tuesday (14 May).

It is not like we have an enmity with these wrestlers, we just want to maintain discipline. The least that is expected from them is that they intimate us of their late arrival. With so many not turning up for training, the wrestlers at the camp also are suffering as many of them don’t have sparring partners and we did not arrange for any since we didn’t know we would have absentees.

Vinod Tomar, Secretary - Wrestling Federation of India

The 15 wrestlers however are not the only ones who did not turn up for the camp on the 10th, Tomar told The Quint that some more will be arriving late, but all of them had taken prior permission from the Federation.

Tomar also added that all appeals will now be passed onto the Committee who is likely to meet on Monday and decide on the WFI’s next move.

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