Friday, March 29TRUSTED FEARLESS INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS PORTAL

Tag: Wrestling Federation of India

Sports

Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik urge PM Narendra Modi to oust people like Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh | More sports News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action against "oppressors" such as Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in Indian sports, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, the protesting duo, criticised the IOA's recent decision to return wrestling's administrative control to the controversy-ridden national federation during their statement on Tuesday.In vehemently expressed messages on social media platform X, the two wrestlers, who have levied allegations of sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan, urged the Prime Minister to intervene."The Prime Minister is a spin master, knows how to spin the issue by invoking 'women power' to counter the speeches of his rivals. Narendra Modi ji, let us also know the real truth of women power," posted Vinesh, who is bound for the Olympic qualifiers ne...
Sports

Wrestling Federation of India to take charge after IOA dissolves ad-hoc committee | More sports News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announced on Monday the dissolution of the ad-hoc committee for wrestling, stating that there was no longer a necessity for its existence following the reinstatement of the national federation, which now assumes full administrative control of the sport.The decision to dissolve the ad-hoc committee was influenced by the successful organisation of the selection trials for the upcoming Olympic qualifying tournament next month, for which the panel collaborated closely with the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).Established in December last year, the ad-hoc committee was formed after the sports ministry suspended the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). However, the WFI received a significant boost when the suspension imposed by the global gov...
Sports

Bajrang Punia, Ravi Dahiya eliminated from Paris Olympics qualification race | More sports News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Bajrang Punia and Ravi Dahiya, both Tokyo Games medalists, faced elimination from Paris Olympics qualification after losing in their respective bouts during the selection trials held in Sonepat, Haryana for upcoming international tournaments.Punia, known for his vocal stance against former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, suffered a significant 1-9 defeat in the men's freestyle 65kg semi-final against Rohit Kumar.Despite a narrow victory against Ravinder (3-3 on criteria), Punia's chances were jeopardised in the tough competition.Following his elimination, Punia left the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre abruptly, declining a dope test by NADA officials. He had trained in Russia to prepare for the trials, which were organised by the IOA ad-hoc panel.Despite winni...
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

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 refuses to appear in selection trials under WFI, moves court against selection competition | More sports News – Times of India

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories...
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

Ad-hoc committee holds no significance, we will conduct trials soon: WFI president Sanjay Singh | More sports News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Wrestling Federation of India chief Sanjay Singh on Tuesday welcomed United World Wrestling's (UWW) decision to lift its suspension. Sanjay Singh also said that the ad-hoc committee led by Bhupinder Singh Bajwa now 'holds no significance'. The UWW had suspended WFI last year on August 23 due to the national federation's failure to conduct elections within the stipulated time frame. "I welcome this decision by UWW. Ad-hoc committee holds no significance now," Singh, who is known to be a loyalist of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, told PTI."We have been officially recognized, and my suspension has ended. Therefore, seeking legal advice holds no significance for us," added Singh, who wanted to take the legal route amid his run-ins with the ad-hoc committee.The UWW ha...
Sports

World wrestling body lifts WFI’s suspension with immediate effect | More sports News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Wrestling's world governing body on Tuesday lifted suspension on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) with immediate effect.The United World Wrestling (UWW) met on February 9 to review the suspension of WFI and subsequently decided to lift the ban.UWW however directed the national federation to provide written guarantees that there would be no discriminatory action against the protesting trio of Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik.The suspension was imposed by United World Wrestling (UWW) on August 23 last year after the national federation failed to hold elections in time."The UWW Bureau met on February 9 to review the suspension among other topics and considering all the elements and information, it decided to lift the suspension," the world body said in a stat...
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 Nationals: ‘If WFI strengthens akhada system, then India can produce more world-class wrestlers’

Prem Chand Lochab, the secretary of the Railway Sports Promotion Board is also the Secretary General of the suspended Wrestling Federation of India. Lochab had the support of wrestlers when he threw his hat in the ring for the WFI polls. In Jaipur, Lochab spoke to The Indian Express on two nationals being held back-to-back, the changes needed in the WFI, and how the country can continue to produce world-class wrestlers. Excerpts from the interview: The Railway Sports Promotion Board is hosting the senior nationals two days after the WFI’s. Where does this leave wrestlers? At these nationals, wrestlers will get medals and certificates that are valid, and then job opportunities open up for them too. The Olympics are around the corner and wrestlers were waiting for these nationals. We didn...
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...