New Delhi: The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has imposed a life ban on wrestler Satender Malik after he punched a referee after losing his bout in the 125 kg freestyle category during the Commonwealth Games selection trials here on Tuesday.
According to reports, after losing his bout to opponent Mohit, the Air Force wrestler stormed across the mat to punch the referee in frustration, stated reports in ANI.
Due to Satender’s intervention at the mat, the 57kg bout between Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Ravi Kumar Dahiya and Aman was also stopped for a brief period.
“The referees officiating that bout will be called for an explanation that why points were not awarded to Mohit when it was clear that the take-down move was clean. Why did they let the situation go out of hand,” WFI’s assistant secretary Vinod Tomar told PTI.
A visibly shaken Jagbir Singh said, “I had no inkling that he would do something like that. I was in charge of the mat & when the game had come under suspicious circumstances the main judge asked me to watch the video & give a decision on the basis of that. After I announced the decision, the wrestler (Satender Malik) started to fight & attacked me,” The Indian Express quoted him.
A Class One referee since 2013, Jagbir added, “I had nothing to do with this bout. I had officiated the 97 kg and 65 kg finals and gave the ruling only after I was asked to do it, he added.
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