Vinesh says 'police not allowing to hold press conference'

Indian World Championships and Commonwealth Games medalist Vinesh Phogat said on Thursday that the police has imposed section 144 at Raj Ghat in Delhi and stopped the wrestlers from holding a press conference.

"The police have imposed section 144 at Rajghat and have stopped us from holding a press conference. Will finalize the time and place of the next press conference soon," tweeted Vinesh.

On Wednesday, Vinesh took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to announce that a press conference that was to be held at Delhi's Raj Ghat at 12:30 pm on Thursday. Along with Vinesh, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik also took to X, to announce the press conference.

"Hello everyone Tomorrow at 12:30 pm we are holding a press conference at Raj Ghat in Delhi. Jai Hind," Vinesh wrote in her tweet.

Last month, the ad hoc committee handed Vinesh and Bajrang exemptions from the Asian Games trials.

The duo received a barrage of criticism from wresters and they broke their silence by doing a combined live session on Facebook and replying to the accusations that wrestler Antim Panghal made on their exemption from the trials for the Asian Games, Hangzhou.

While addressing the accusations made by Antim, Vinesh had said during the live session, "We are not against the trials. I am not blaming Antim. She is too young to understand. She is right in her place. She is fighting for her right and we are fighting for our right. But we are not wrong."

Both wrestlers addressed the accusations that have been made against them after the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) ad hoc committee gave them an exemption from the trials and direct entry into the squad in their respective weight categories.

Wrestler Antim through a video communication has raised questions over the exemption given to wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat for direct entry into the Asian Games 2023.

Delhi High Court also dismissed the petitions moved by wrestlers, Antim and Sujeet Kalkal, over the exemption given to wrestlers, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, for direct entry into the Asian Games 2023.

The Asian Games begin on September 23.