Thursday, March 28TRUSTED FEARLESS INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS PORTAL

Tag: WFI

Sports

Wrestling mess: World body says only WFI can conduct trials, Indian wrestlers face uncertainty over entries for Paris Olympic qualifiers

Plunging from one crisis to another for the past one year, Indian wrestling is now staring at a situation where, unless a last-minute solution is found, it might not be able to register entries for the Olympic qualification tournament next month.The situation arose on Friday after the sport’s world governing body declared that it would accept names of athletes for the all-important tournament only if the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) would send them. By doing so, the United World Wrestling (UWW) has essentially snatched all the powers from the Indian Olympic Association-appointed ad hoc committee, which was scheduled to conduct the trials on Sunday and Monday following a Delhi High Court order. In a letter to WFI president Sanjay Singh, the UWW chief Nenad Lalovic underlined that ...
Sports

Wrestling: After petition by Bajrang and Sakshi, WFI tells Delhi HC it will not hold selection trials

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) told the Delhi High Court on Thursday that it will withdraw its February 26 circular about the selection trials for the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships 2024 and Asian Olympic Games Qualifier, paving the way for the Indian Olympic Association-appointed ad-hoc committee to conduct the trials. The High Court order states that consequently, “there shall be no parallel selection trials” as apprehended in the plea moved by the petitioner wrestlers. The court thereafter said, “Needless to say, the ad-hoc committee shall ensure that all athletes, which are found eligible, are permitted to participate in the trial.” The matter is next listed for April 26. The High Court was hearing a plea moved by Olympic medallist wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi M...
Sports

HC wants Centre, WFI to respond to protesting wrestlers’ plea against federation election

The Delhi High Court on Monday issued a notice to the Centre on a plea by grapplers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Satyawart Kadian to set aside the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections held in December 2023. A single-judge bench of Justice Sachin Datta issued the notice to the government through the sports ministry, WFI and the ad-hoc committee appointed to run the federation. The court granted time to the Centre’s counsel to seek instructions in the matter and listed the matter for hearing on March 7. Senior advocate Rahul Mehra, appearing for the petitioner wrestlers, argued that they have sought directions against the “illegal action” of the “suspended” WFI to conduct selection trials for the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships 2024 and Asian Olympic Games ...
Sports

Wrestlers move Delhi High Court against WFI, allege sports code violations, want its trials cancelled

Alleging that the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) elections were held in violation of the sports code, protesting wrestlers including Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat have filed an urgent petition in the Delhi High Court with a plea to set aside the poll results and de-recognise the federation, it is learnt. This development comes days after the WFI issued a circular stating that it would conduct national trials for Olympic qualifiers and invited the protesting wrestlers to participate in the trials. The urgent plea also mentions that without the court intervening, the trial conducted by the WFI won’t be free or fair and would affect the careers of wrestlers, a source said. The WFI, in a circular, had announced that i...
Sports

Bajrang Punia urges United World Wrestling to reimpose suspension on WFI | More sports News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia has called upon the world governing body, United World Wrestling (UWW), to reinstate the suspension on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Punia expressed concern that the revival of the Sanjay Singh-led body has once again exposed wrestlers to "threat and harassment."On Tuesday, the UWW lifted the provisional suspension on WFI, contingent upon the national federation providing written guarantees that there would be no discriminatory actions taken against the protesting trio - Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat.The wrestlers had raised concerns, and Punia is requesting the UWW to reconsider the decision and reinstate the suspension on WFI to safeguard the athletes from potential repercussions."This decision has again put Indian...
Sports

Brij Bhushan’s son, aide back at helm, wrestlers threaten protest

INDIA’S TOP wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik have threatened to restart their protest following the election of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s son Karan Bhushan Singh as the president of the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association. The wrestlers, both Olympic medalists, are also unhappy that Sanjay Singh — a close aide of Brij Bhushan, the BJP MP from Kaiserganj — will return as WFI president and run the day-to-day affairs after the United World Wrestling lifted the suspension of the federation on Tuesday. Decision-making powers in the hands of Brij Bhushan loyalists at the state-level and in the WFI saw Sakshi and Bajrang take to social media with a threat to relaunch their protests. Karan was earlier vice-president of UP wrestling....
Sports

UWW lifts ban on Indian body led by Brij Bhushan’s aide, but add multiple riders

In a decision that is likely to create confusion domestically but will allow India’s athletes to once again compete under the national flag internationally, the United World Wrestling (UWW) Tuesday lifted the suspension it imposed on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).The UWW said the reinstatement of WFI – after it served a suspension for six months for failure to conduct its elections – is conditional. As a part of the deal, the WFI – led by a close aide of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused of sexual harassment by the country’s top wrestlers – has to provide the UWW with ‘written guarantees that all wrestlers will be considered for participation without any discrimination’. “This non-discrimination includes the three athletes who protested against alleged wrongdoings by the form...
Sports

‘Too many risks’: Women wrestlers encouraged to wean away from last-day fast weight loss

At any wrestling championships, the common sight is of athletes in raincoats running rounds of indoor mats on eve of competition. Most of them are also fasting. Wrestlers cramming last-minute sweating, dehydrating and starving to force-fit into their weight categories isn’t something new. But is it healthy? Dr Samuel Pullinger, head of Sports Science at JSW’s Inspire Institute of Sport training centre at Vijayanagar in Karnataka, is trying to wean away the centre’s women wrestlers from this punishing pre weigh-in regime. Often considered a heroic struggle which it is and fairly global, the basis of the practice however is unhealthy. Having noticed a constant stream of Anterior Cruciate Ligament knee injuries and rash of ligament tears, he has now insisted there would be no more sauna an...
Sports

Why wrestling lightweight Puducherry finished third at Nationals and Sikkim, Andaman fielded ‘strong’ teams

Weigh-ins and verification of men’s freestyle wrestlers completed closer to midnight, finalisation of jumbo draws that resulted in a delayed start on Monday and a mega entry list of 325 wrestlers across weight classes, with certain categories comprising 34 wrestlers and 16 first-round bouts. States like Sikkim and Andaman and Nicobar, not known for wrestling prowess, fielded wrestlers named Rahul Rathi, Parvinder, Vinay Dahiya and Hritik Yadav. Mizoram, Meghalaya and Lakshadweep also had stronger-than-usual teams comprising a few wrestlers from powerhouse states. The entry list read pretty similar in women’s freestyle, too, a day earlier. Puducherry, a lightweight in wrestling, finished third in the team championship. Thirty-four teams, including institutional units Railways and Service...
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

Factionalism in states, two nationals leave wrestlers in a tizzy

Factionalism in state units of wrestling has made life difficult for wrestlers. Take the case of Rajasthan. One trial was held in Bharatpur for the suspended WFI’s Pune Nationals held earlier this week, while a second trial at Kota was conducted by another faction for the nationals conducted by the ad-hoc committee in Jaipur. Both the trials were held on the same day. Wrestlers selected from the Bharatpur trials participated and won medals in Pune only to later realise that the sports ministry does not recognise the nationals conducted by the suspended WFI. At least three medals winners from the Pune Nationals have made a last minute dash to Jaipur hoping to get their names on the start list. “When we participated in the WFI nationals at Pune we had no idea it would not be recognised. ...
Sports

Wrestling: At the ‘official’ Nationals in Jaipur, a wedding-like lunch spread, hotels for grapplers and hope for a clearer future

Not far from the competition venue of the Senior National Wrestling Championships here, under a large shamiana, is a lavish buffet spread at lunchtime. There is a well-stocked non-veg counter and also a salad station. Earlier the participants were escorted to the hotel by officials who were there to receive them at the airport or railway station. Few days back another wrestling ‘Nationals’ was held at Pune, it was organised by the president of the suspended WFI Sanjay Singh, a loyalist of the erstwhile president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who faces sexual harassment charges against him. The Sports Ministry had called it illegal. At Pune wrestlers had to go hungry as there were no eating options at the venue and among the ‘reception party’ at the venue were an army of mosquitoes. The Jaip...
Sports

Sexual harassment case: Ex-WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh seeks discharge claiming delay in reporting offence | More sports News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers, BJP MP and former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Friday sought to be discharged from the case, arguing there was delay in reporting of alleged offences and contradictions in statements of the complaints. During the arguments in a metropolitan court, Singh's counsel informed Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Priyanka Rajpoot that the incidents, which were said to have occurred in 2012, were only reported to the police in 2023. The submission was part of the discussions on whether charges should be framed against Singh and his co-accused, Vinod Tomar, the former assistant secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).“There was a long delay in reporting the alleged offences. The incidents of 2012 were r...
Sports

Forest dweller hits wrestling mats: remarkable tale of Leena Siddi, African descendant Indian

Before she joined a sports hostel for wrestling, Leena Antho Siddi, one amongst 11 children but her father’s favourite, would be thrilled when she heard someone in the neighbourhood or extended family was getting married. She loved wedding invites because it was a legitimate reason to leave their dwelling in the forests of Haliyal taluk of Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district, and eat to their heart’s content at the feasts.“My father would take us along so we could have a proper meal, after days. His struggle in my regard ended when I joined a sports hostel where I was fed well. When he watched Sushil Kumar win the Beijing Olympics bronze, he had decided that his next-born would join wrestling, compete at the Olympics, and never go hungry. Now I win village dangals and earn enough to fee...
Sports

After suspended WFI conducts own nationals, says govt recognition will come in 10 days, sports ministry threatens legal action

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports threatened legal action against Sanjay Singh, president of the currently-suspended Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), on Tuesday if he, or any other elected members, continued to make “unsubstantiated claims regarding the status of the WFI.” In an interview published in The Indian Express on Tuesday, Singh claimed that he is confident that the government will revoke the suspension of the federation, and he will return in his capacity as president “within 10 days.” Singh was speaking on the sidelines of a Senior Nationals competition in Pune that was conducted in defiance of orders from the Sports Ministry. He also said that “those who go for the Olympics will be from the Pune Nationals only.” The official notice from the ministry stated that an...
Sports

From wrestling hubs of Maharashtra to Delhi’s Chhatrasal in search of an Olympic berth

Pruthviraj Mohol is a fourth generation wrestler from Mulshi taluka of Pune, and his grandfather was Maharashtra Kesari. Soon after his first School Nationals, however, his father, an accomplished wrestler himself, started preparing him for a move to Delhi.“We could see after I won U17s that Mahabali Satpal was India’s greatest coach because India’s top medals at Olympics were coming from his trainees. So I gave trials for Chhatrasal and moved,” Mohol, who picked the 125kg gold at the suspended WFI’s Pune Nationals, said. The field might have been depleted in Pune and Jaipur will have the original crowning, but Mohol insists that Olympics are his ultimate goal. After years of hosting top wrestlers from north India at renowned talims (akhadas) in Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara and Pune, a reve...
Sports

Sports Ministry warns of legal action against suspended WFI president Sanjay Singh | More sports News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Sports Ministry issued a stern warning of legal consequences against suspended Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Sanjay Singh. The ministry deemed Sanjay's recent claims, specifically regarding government recognition of WFI, as "absolutely baseless and mischievous."Emphasising the suspension of WFI for violating its own constitution, the ministry reiterated that any tournament organised by the body would be considered "unsanctioned."Sanjay had previously announced the Senior National Championship in Pune, scheduled for January 29-31, claiming the participation of around 700 wrestlers, a statement that prompted the ministry's strong response."...Certain claims are being made by you pertaining to the recognition of the currently under-suspension Executive Commit...
Sports

At suspended WFI nationals; wrestlers in fix, venue infested by mosquitoes

Players forced to pick a side or risk their health straddling back-to-back events. A defiant federation’s loyalists frothing in rage at being restrained by the Sports Ministry. And a competition venue infested with mosquitoes. Indian wrestling continues to remain chaotic as a hurriedly held Senior Nationals at Pune by the suspended Wrestling Federation of India that has the erstwhile wrestling chief Brij Bhushan Singh’s loyalist Sanjay Singh at helm, is flying in the face of the government-mandated one at Jaipur three days later.The January 29-31 meet being conducted at Pune has failed to attract the top names of the country in any weight category, the ace wrestlers showing a preference for the February 2-5 Nationals of the government-appointed ad-hoc committee later. Maharashtra’s Atis...
Sports

Aman Sehrawat begins new year with title, braces for showdown with Ravi Dahiya in race to Paris

For months on, Indian wrestling’s biggest prodigy, Aman Sehrawat, had to suffer a snippy taunt at his akhara – dheela.It had nothing to do with his relaxed demeanour. Rather, that was how Sehrawat’s coaches described – at times sarcastically, sometimes in a caustic way but always out of frustration – his wrestling style in the opening few exchanges of a bout. The barb would have perhaps rung in his ears on Wednesday. While he went on to win the 57kg title at the UWW Ranking Series in Zagreb, beating China’s Wanhao Zou 10-0 in the gold medal bout, Sehrawat was a little slow off the blocks earlier in the day in the opening round. In his first bout of the year, the 20-year-old, allowed Turkey’s M Karavus a four-point takedown within the opening 10 seconds of the Ranking Series tournament i...
Sports

IOA cannot exercise control over WFI; UWW should lift ban: WFI chief tells world body chief Lalovic | More sports News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has reminded United World Wrestling (UWW) that, in accordance with the rules of the international body and the IOC charter, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) "cannot exercise any control" over the newly-elected body. The WFI has urged UWW to promptly lift the provisional suspension imposed in August of the previous year.In a letter to UWW President Nenad Lalovic, Sanjay Singh, the newly-elected chief of the Wrestling Federation of India, asserted that any interference by the IOA in wrestling affairs should be considered "illegal" by UWW. This comes after the sports ministry suspended the WFI three days after it assumed power, leading to the re-institution of an IOA ad-hoc panel to oversee the sport."Pursuant to the election, the newl...