HANGZHOU: Bajrang Punia was offered exemption from the selection trials for the Asian Games on the grounds that the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist was the country's best bet for a gold in the men's freestyle 65kg competition at the Hangzhou.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA)-led ad-hoc panel, headed by India's chef-de-mission (CDM) at the Games, Bhupender Singh Bajwa, felt that Bajrang and Vinesh Phogat have the skills, experience and mental fortitude to claim another top of the podium finish for India.