More delightful news coming in from the Wrestling Federation of India – two-time Commonwealth medalist Babita Kumari is all set to be pardoned after she secured an Olympic quota to represent India in Rio at the 53kg Women’s Freestyle category of wrestling, earlier this week.
The 26-year-old sibling of celebrated wrestler Geeta Phogat from Haryana is currently under temporary suspension which was sanctioned by the WFI following her decision to forfeit a bout at the 1st World Qualification Tournament held in April in Mongolia. Her upsetting act led to the federation sending her a show-cause notice, a reply to which is still required be delivered from her side by the 15th of this month.
In an unforeseen turn of events, on Monday, the United World Wrestling governing body banned several wrestlers from the Summer Games after their samples tested positive for the prohibited drug Meldonium. Among the guilty was Sumiyaa Erdenechimegiin of Mongolia who had triumphed in the 53kg Women’s category at the 2016 Asian Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament.
Incidentally, Erdenechimegiin had defeated Babita in their semi-final clash on March 18th, by scoring an imposing 15 points over the latter’s 8. Now, with the Mongolian facing UWW’s punishment, her Olympic spot has been transferred to the Indian, making her the 3rd female wrestler in the country’s Rio-bound contingent.
According to Vinod Tomar, assistant secretary of the WFI, Babita has apologised and pleaded her case with the council citing the evident irrelevance of the bout that she had declined to contest in the April meet. Now, with her ticket to Rio confirmed, it’s only fair that she gets cleared by the federation to go ahead and represent the nation at the Olympic stage.
In light of these latest developments, WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has also decided to accept her apology and insisted that the disciplinary committee do the same as well. Once she appears before the bench on Tuesday for the meeting, final confirmation will be out on this matter. Till then, signs are pretty positive for this 2014 Commonwealth gold-winning wrestler from Haryana.
