Thursday, March 28TRUSTED FEARLESS INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS PORTAL

Tag: Vinesh

Sports

After helping improve facilities for wrestlers and regaining her uncurbed enthusiasm, unstoppable Vinesh Phogat wins Nationals crown

It was a near-perfect return to competition for Vinesh Phogat after being away from wrestling for a year-and-a-half because of being involved in protests and a knee injury. The 29-year-old making a comeback after a knee surgery in August didn’t concede a single point in the 55kg rounds, displayed strong defense against Haryana’s Tamanna in the quarterfinal and won by fall against Madhya Pradesh’s Jyoti in the final in just two minutes. This might be a non-Olympic category, and she will have to face tougher opponents if she eventually qualifies for the Olympics in the 53kg category, but Sunday was about spending time on the mat and going through rounds of a competition. Vinesh, competing for RSPB, said she put in 50 percent effort because she was being cautious. “I am returning after...
Sports

Women wrestlers won’t feel safe if Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s people win WFI polls: Bajrang Punia

New Delhi: The government must keep its word on ensuring a shift of power in the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) with no close associate of president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh contesting in the election else there will be no clean-up and women wrestlers won’t feel safe, Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia said on Wednesday. Singh, the BJP MP from Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh, has been found liable for prosecution for sexual harassment, molestation and stalking of women wrestlers in the Delhi Police chargesheet. Bajrang and some of the country’s other top wrestlers had suspended their protest against Singh after a meeting with sports minister Anurag Thakur in June. One of the conditions agreed upon, according to Bajrang, was that ‘no family member’ or ‘supporter’ of Singh wo...
Sports

Covid, murder, protests: As Indian wrestling endures setbacks, a Delhi akhara keeps churning out champions

It’s nine in the morning at Delhi’s famed Chhatrasal akhara and trainees are lined up in the kitchen, armed with their casseroles and bowls after morning practice.On a large, wood-fuelled oven, stacks of rotis are being prepared, which disappear in no time. “It’s our lunchtime now and there’s no restriction on servings,” says a young pehalwan as he fills up a large bowl with raita, which, he says, will be his snack before the evening practice session. What might be an unusual lunch time for most is routine for these young men.For these 200 or so trainees, each day looks the same: wake up at 4.30am, warm-up, and spend nearly seven or eight hours training, taking breaks only to have meals. Same routine, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Barely 5km from Delhi University’s North Campus, ...
Sports

Delhi HC refuses to interfere with Asian Games trials exemption to Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia

The Delhi High Court Saturday refused to interfere with the exemption granted to top wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia from Asian Games trials. Justice Subramonium Prasad dismissed the petition by Under-20 World Champion Antim Panghal and Under-23 Asian Champion Sujeet Kalkal against the direct entry allowed to Phogat and Punia to participate in the tournament. “Writ petition is dismissed,” the judge said. A detailed copy of the order is awaited. Phogat (53kg) and Punia (65kg) were given direct entry for the Asian Games by the Indian Olympic Association’s ad-hoc committee on Tuesday, while other wrestlers will have to earn their places in the Indian squad through selection trials on July 22 and 23. Panghal and Kalkal moved the high court on July 19 challenging the exemption and ...
Sports

Wrestlers complain of unpaid dues to Oversight Committee; Brij Bhushan says he made contract announcement in ‘excitement’ of getting a sponsor

— “In 2019, I was told I would be given Rs 1 lakh per month from the money they received from (sponsorship deal with) Tata. After that, I got a cheque of Rs 5.5 lakh and later, in 2021, Rs 4.5 lakh. I received approximately Rs 10 lakh,” Ravi Dahiya, Tokyo Olympics silver medallist.— “I was in Grade B and was entitled to Rs 25 lakh per year as per the contract. So far, I have received 2 cheques totalling to Rs 5.25 approximately,” Pooja Dhanda, 2018 World Championship bronze medallist.— “I was promised Rs 1 lakh per month but I just received Rs 6 lakh lump sum and was told I’d get the rest of the money later,” Deepak Punia, 2019 World Championship silver medallist. These are testimonies of some of the wrestlers who deposed before the government-appointed Oversight Committee, whose full r...
Sports

Top Indian wrestler accuses government of silence over sexual harassment probe

An Olympic wrestler on Saturday criticised the pace of a police inquiry into sexual harassment accusations against the chief of India’s national wrestling body.Vinesh Phogat, a two-time Olympian who has accused Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually abusing her, said she has also been hurt by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the issue.Phogat is one of seven female athletes to have lodged a police case against Singh accusing him of sexually harassing them. Singh, who is also a federal lawmaker from Modi’s ruling party, has denied allegations of making sexual advances, groping and threatening female athletes if they refused to meet him alone. “I have only felt a deep sense of humiliation since I mustered the courage to say that I have ...
Sports

As IOA maintains silence, athletes’ panel member Shiva Keshavan speaks out on wrestlers’ protest, calls it ‘darkest moment’

A DAY after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) urged the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to “protect the athletes” and called for an “unbiased, criminal investigation” into the allegations of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a member of the IOA’s athletes’ commission said this was “one of the darkest moments in our sporting history”. Speaking to The Indian Express, six-time Winter Olympian Shiva Keshavan said: “I am not authorised to speak on behalf of the IOA or the athletes’ commission. But, as an athlete, as someone involved in speaking about athletes’ rights, and as a representative of the athletes’ commission, I must say this is one of the darkest moments in our sporting history.” Referring to the wres...
Sports

Brij Bhushan Singh reacts to wrestlers’ call to immerse medals in Ganga

Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Tuesday responded to the protesting wrestlers and said that the charges against him are already being probed by the Delhi Police. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the six-time BJP MP said, “The matter is under investigation by the Delhi Police. If there’s any truth to the charges (levelled against him by the wrestlers), an arrest will be made,” the WFI chief added. “Today, they went to Haridwar to immerse their medals in the Ganga. But later, they handed them to Tikait. It’s their stand, what can we do?” he added. #WATCH | "Let the probe happen, it is in the hands of Delhi Police. If found wrong, then arresting will also take place," WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh reacts to #WrestlersProtest in Hari...
Sports

After Haridwar huddle, wrestlers rethink move to drop medals in Ganga

ON A day of high drama, the protesting wrestlers, led by Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat, announced on Tuesday that they would ‘immerse’ their medals in the Ganga river, and reached Har ki Pauri in Haridwar by evening. After sitting in a huddle on the banks of the river for over an hour-and-a-half, where some of them could be seen sobbing as they clutched their medals and citations, the wrestlers reversed their decision, soon after Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) president Naresh Tikait reached the spot and asked them to defer their decision by five days. Protesting wrestlers sit at Har ki Pauri, in Haridwar district. (PTI) Before Tikait’s arrival, as the crowd at the ghat grew bigger, a human chain of family members and oth...
Sports

Global Olympics body steps in: Very disturbing, protect athletes

FOR the first time since India’s top wrestlers, including two Olympics medal winners, alleged sexual harassment by their federation chief, BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the International Olympic Committee has stepped in. The statement came hours after the wrestlers — including Bajrang Punia (Olympics Bronze, 2021) and Sakshi Malik (Olympics Bronze, 2016) — threatened to drop their medals into the Ganga at Haridwar. The IOC spokesperson from Lausanne, Switzerland, in a response to a query from The Indian Express, said that the “treatment” meted out to the athletes over the weekend, when they were manhandled and detained for hours, was “very disturbing.” Protesting wrestlers sit at Har ki Pauri, in Haridwar district. (PTI) The IOC asked for an “unbiased, criminal investigation” into...
Sports

Wrestlers protest completes a month; Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia lead candlelight march

New Delhi: In the company of hundreds of vocal supporters, top wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia marked the day their protests against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh completed one month by taking out a candle march to India Gate in New Delhi on Tuesday. Under extremely heavy police scrutiny and massive deployment of security personnel, the wrestlers marched to India Gate with their supporters raising slogans and flying Indian flags in the air, demanding the arrest of Brijbhushan, who is also a BJP MP from Kaiserganj district in Uttar Pradesh, due to alleged sexual harassment and exploitation of women wrestlers. The intense summer heat in the capital and a mild dust storm in the evening did not dampen the spirits. The wrestle...
Sports

Wrestlers’ protest: ‘Panel asked us for audio, video proof… member said Bhushan Sharan Singh like father figure’

AT least three wrestlers who deposed to the official Oversight Committee probing their allegations of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, have raised concerns over the panel’s proceedings. In interviews to The Indian Express on the condition that they not be named, all the three wrestlers said they were asked to provide “video or audio proof” of their harassment. One said that she was told by a member of the committee that Singh was “like a father figure” and that she had “misconstrued” his behaviour “done in all innocence” as “inappropriate touching.” Another said that staff members of the WFI and a coach, all close to Singh, crowded the waiting area of the Sports Authority of India building, the venue of the hearings, an...
Sports

Wrestlers’ protest: Minor complainant records statement before magistrate

THE LONE minor among the seven female wrestlers, who filed police complaints alleging sexual harassment by Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, has recorded her statement before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). “The minor appeared before a magistrate and gave her statement on Wednesday,” a senior officer from the Delhi Police headquarters confirmed. The police officer also confirmed that a notice had been sent to the WFI, asking it to provide certain documents and details of tournaments in which the complainants had participated. Some of the alleged incidents of sexual harassment are learnt to have occurred at tournaments where Brij Bhushan was also present. Last week, the police recorded the stateme...
Sports

We remained silent as we feared for our careers: Sakshi Malik

As the wrestlers’ protest at Jantar Mantar reached its 10th day, the grapplers were eager to put to rest certain allegations levelled at them by WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The BJP MP from Gonda in Uttar Pradesh has denied the sexual harassment charges against him and has often asked, through media interactions, why the protesters remained silent for this long. Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik said that it wasn’t the first time that wrestlers have approached law enforcement agencies seeking an FIR against Brij Bhushan. She alleged that in 2012 around half a dozen junior athletes had approached the police in Lucknow to file an FIR against him but it was swept under the carpet due to the BJP strongman’s influence. “In 2012, a national camp was organised for juniors ...
Sports

Wrestlers’ protest: Rain reduces flow of visitors but stir going strong

Late at night on Sunday, when protests against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brijbhushan Sharan Singh had completed a week, Bajrang Punia took the mic in pouring rain and made an appeal. He asked the supporters outside the core group of wrestlers who were planning to spend the night at the agitation site at Jantar Mantar to leave, saying that he acknowledged their support but it would be the core group of wrestlers who would continue the protest through the night in the rain. That night and later on Monday, due to several bouts of subdued rain, the protest area wore a new look. The mattresses that were placed on the road, on which the numerous supporters, friends and families of the wrestlers were seated, were removed and stacked up under shade. A makeshift c...
Sports

Vinesh outrage prompts stars to lend their voice: Pained, hope for justice

A DAY after World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat questioned the lack of support from other sportspersons, Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra and several other top sportspersons on Friday lent their support to the wrestlers protesting against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The country’s first-ever track and field Olympic gold medalist, Chopra said he was hurt to see athletes having to demand justice by protesting on the streets. “They have worked hard to represent our great nation and make us proud. As a nation, we are responsible for safeguarding the integrity and dignity of every individual, athlete or not,” he tweeted. Vinesh, who is at the forefront  of the protests, had told The Indian Express during an Idea Exchange programme that she expect...
Sports

WATCH: Bajrang Punia accuses Delhi Police of cutting electricity at Jantar Mantar, wrestlers asked to end protest following 2 FIRs filed against WFI chief

In an Instagram video, Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Bajrang Punia has accused the Delhi Police of cutting electricity and ration supplies at the wrestlers protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. Speaking to his followers, Punia claimed that the Delhi Police have cut off electricity, barricaded the protest site and isn’t allowing food and water and have asked the wrestlers to end their protest after Delhi Police registered two FIRs against Wrestling Federation of India president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation by seven women wrestlers. “I’ve spoken to the ACP, he said, ‘Do whatever you can, we won’t let water or food in’,” Bajrang said. “You can see the pressure that is being put on us. When the entire country is in...
Sports

‘Our right to protest as citizens of democratic nation’: Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia respond to PT Usha

India top wrestlers like Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat were left surprised by the comments of former track and field star PT Usha, who is now the head of the Indian Olympic Association. The athletics legend had said on Thursday that the fresh protest from the wrestlers “amounted to indiscipline” and was “tarnishing image of India”. This evoked sharp reaction from the protesting wrestlers. “We were not expecting this from PT Usha ma’am. We thought she would stand with her fellow athletes. She’s a woman herself, so we expected her to stand with us. I’m hurt by her words. Recently, she was tweeting that there were some people trying to occupy land of her academy (the Usha School of Athletics, in Balussery, Kerala) and resorting to hooliganism there. At that time the country’s image was n...