Page 7 - Wrestling Federation Of India

Difficult to focus on wrestling when sports' future is at stake: Bajrang

After calling off the protest, we wanted to give 100 per cent to training, but how is that possible when we got to know Brijbhushan's people could run the federation again, says Bajrang Punia

Ad-hoc body not to change criteria for Worlds trials after injury to Vinesh

The IOA-constituted ad-hoc committee for wrestling has decided not alter the criteria for the upcoming trials to select the team for the next month's World Championships in Belgrade. The trial to select the team for the Worlds, which commence on September 16, will be held in Patiala on August 25-26. "The trials for the Worlds will be conducted in Patiala as per the schedule announced two back back in all 10 weight categories in men's freestyle, greco-roman and women's wrestling," said an ad-hoc committee member on condition of anonymity on Wednesday. There was speculation that with Vinesh Phogat (53kg) pulling out of the Hangzhou Asian Games due to a knee injury and the Worlds trials, the ad-hoc panel might only conduct the exercise in four non-Olympic categories. There are 10 weight categories in wrestling -- six Olympic and four non-Olympic -- and the trials in the former had been conducted on July 22-23 in New Delhi to select the team for the Asian Games in Hangzhou. Several ..

Punjab and Haryana HC stays Aug 12 WFI polls until further orders

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday stayed the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections slated for August 12 until further orders. The order came on a petition filed by the Haryana Wrestling Association challenging the move to allow the Haryana Amateur Wrestling Association to cast votes in the polls. Advocate Ravinder Malik, representing Haryana Wrestling Association (HWA), which is headed by MP Deepinder Hooda said Haryana Wrestling association is a registered society in the state of Haryana and is affiliated to the WFI. According to the election rules and constitution of the WFI, any registered affiliated body can send two representatives to cast their votes for the polls, he stated. He said that one more body, the Haryana Amateur Wrestling Association has claimed that it was affiliated to the WFI as well as the Haryana Olympic Association. Haryana Amateur Wrestling Association further claimed that the HWA has no business to participate in the election process beca

WFI Elections: Final list of candidates out; eyes on Anita, Kartar, Lochab

Former Indian wrestling great Kartar Singh is among five candidates in the fray for four vice-presidential posts in the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections, scheduled on August 12. Kartar, the two-time Asian Games gold medallist (1978 Bangkok and 1986 Seoul)is a former WFI secretary-general with years of administrative experience and is in the fray along with Asit Kumar Saha (Bengal), Jai Prakash (Delhi), Mohan Yadav (Madhya Pradesh) and N Phoni (Manipur). The contest for the post of president will be between outgoing WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh-loyalist Sanjay Kumar Singh (Uttar Pradesh) and 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anita Sheoran. The 38-year-old Sheoran, it is learnt, has the backing of the six wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, who led the protests against Brij Bhushan at Jantar Mantar here. Sheoran, interestingly, is also a witness against Brij Bhushan in the sexual harassment case. As per the official list .

WFI Elections: Its wrestler Anita vs Sanjay Singh for president's post

Either Sanjay Kumar Singh or 2010 CWG champion Anita Sheoran will become the next WFI President as it has become a two-way contest for the top post following withdrawal of other candidates. UP Association Vice President Sanjay is an outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh loyalist while Anita is the lone woman in the fray for the August 12 polls. Anita filed her nomination as representative of the Odisha unit even as she is from Haryana and employed with the state police. Two other candidates in the fray for the top post, Dushyant Sharma (J&K) and another Brij Bhushan loyalist Jai Prakash (Delhi Wrestling Association President) withdrew their nominations on Saturday, according to source in the IOA ad-hoc committee. The Returning Officer for the polls, former J&K High Court Judge Mahesh Mittal Kumar, will officially announce the final list of candidates in the fray on August 7. Elections will be held for the posts of president (1), senior vice-president (1), vice-president

Wrestling: Trials for World C'ships likely after WFI officials take charge

The IOA-constituted ad-hoc committee for wrestling will likely leave the job of organising trials for the World Championships to the elected WFI office-bearers, and is planning to "issue a directive" in a day or two. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) will elect its new office-bearers on August 12, which would leave only four days for them to organise the Worlds trials and send the entries, which close on August 16. The World Championships will be held in Belgrade from September 16-24 where 90 quota places for the 2024 Paris Olympics will be at stake. The ad-hoc panel was initially planning to organise the trials around August 10 and issue a notification between August 1-3. However, a source close to the ad-hoc committee members said on condition of anonymity on Thursday that most of the panel members want the elected WFI office-bearers to organise the trials "to avoid more controversy". "The ad-hoc panel is planning to hand over the task of organising trials to the elected b

Court to start hearing arguments on charge against WFI ex-chief on Aug 9

A Delhi court will start hearing on August 9 arguments on the charges likely to be framed against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a case of alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Harjeet Singh Jaspal on Thursday fixed August 9, 10 and 11 for arguments on charge after Advocate Rajeev Mohan, appearing for Singh, submitted verification of the documents provided by Delhi police, including the charge sheet, are complete. The counsel said though he has sought better pictures/copy of certain documents, he can take their soft copies from the Investigation Officer (IO). During the proceedings, Singh and co-accused and suspended WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar appeared before the court. The judge had on July 28 granted Singh exemption from personal appearance for the day after his lawyer submitted he was unable to appear before the court as he was busy discharging his responsibiliti

WFI elections: Brij Bhushan camp files nominations with full fanfare

Four candidates, including outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's close aide Sanjay Singh from UP, filed nominations for the post of president amid fanfare at the Olympic Bhawan here on Monday. Darshan Lal from the Chandigarh wrestling body filed his nomination for the post of general secretary, while SP Deswal from Uttarakhand filed his nomination for the post of treasurer from the Brij Bhushan camp. The Brij Bhushan camp claims to have the support of 22 of the 25 state units and, after filing their nominations, expressed "confidence" of winning all 15 posts during the WFI elections on August 12. On a day of hectic activity at the Olympic Bhawan, a convoy of nominees and supporters from the Brij Bhushan camp arrived with the "blessings" of the BJP leader, and after extensive paperwork, filed their nominations before former J&K High Court Chief Justice Mahesh Mittal Kumar, the Returning Office appointed for the WFI elections. The last date for ...

No one from my family is contesting WFI polls: Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Outgoing Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Monday said no member of his family will contest the upcoming elections of the national sports body but reiterated that his group has the support of 22 state associations. BJP MP Brij Bhushan had claimed that 22 out of 25 state units attended a meeting hosted by him on Sunday, adding that "his candidates" for various posts for the federation elections on August 12 will be announced on Monday. Brij Bhushan visited the Indian Olympic Association office here on the last day of nomination for WFI elections on Monday. "Today is the last day of nominations, members from 22 state associations were here and they came to meet and are now going for filing their nominations. There is no one from my family," he said. "Let the elections happen first and then whoever wins will do their work." Brij Bhushan, against whom the country's six top wrestlers including Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Asian G

WFI elections: Brij Bhushan claims 22 state units attended his meeting

Outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh claimed that 22 out of 25 state units attended a meeting hosted by him here on Sunday, adding that "his candidates" for various posts for the federation elections on August 12 will be announced on July 31. Monday is the last date for filing nominations. "Twenty-two of the 25 states unites associated with the WFI attended the meeting. (Our) candidates will be announced on Monday," said BJP MP Brij Bhushan, who hosted the meeting at a five-star hotel here. Brij Bhushan, against whom the country's six top wrestlers including Olympic medallists Bajranj Punia and Sakshi Malik had levelled allegations of sexual harassment, is ineligible to contest as he has completed 12 years a head of the federation -- the maximum period allowed as per the National Sports Code. A state unit member who attended the meeting here said on condition of anonymity that the BJP leader's son-in-law, who is widely being touted as Bri

WFI elections: Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to convene meeting on July 30

Outgoing Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has convened a meeting on Sunday to nominate his panel, which will contest the upcoming WFI elections to elect the new office-bearers. Though Brij Bhushan and his son Karan are not part of the electoral college for the elections, the BJP leader's son-in-law Vishal Singh is a representative from Bihar in the polls and could likely contest for a top position. Outgoing WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar confirmed that a meeting had been scheduled by Brij Bhushan on July 30, though he did not specify the venue. "Yes, the outgoing president has convened a meeting on Sunday. It has not been decided where the meeting will take place. The meeting will likely be attended by all those (state body officials) who support him (Brij Bhushan)," said Tomar. "The presidents and secretaries of the various state associations will likely come for the meeting to discuss the candidates for the elections. The venue for the meetin

Asian Games: Olympic medalist Ravi Dahiya loses in trials to Atish Todakr

Ravi Dahiya lost to Atish Todakar by fall after trailing 8-20. Todkar lost to Rahul, who was then beaten by Asian Championship gold medalist Aman Sehrawat. Thus Sehrawat qualified in 57-kg category

Championing meek my nature, says outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh

BJP MP and outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who recently got bail from a Delhi court, on Saturday said it is in his nature to side with the weak, just as has been the culture of India. "I had sided with the weak. Maybe it's my nature. And this is not only my nature, it is also the nature of my country," Singh said, addressing a prize distribution function here, with no apparent context to his remarks. The lawmaker from Kaiserganj said "things are getting clear now and are there for all to see," adding, he cannot be any more explicit. The Wrestling Federation of India chief, who is accused of harassing several female athletes, also said, "I had said in the beginning that whatever is going against me pertains to the struggle against my policy. At that time, my statements were not considered correct." Addressing the youths, the lawmaker advised them to work ceaselessly and honestly. "You should do your work honestly. For seven months, the world was making comments agains

WFI elections on Aug 12, Maharashtra declared ineligible for participation

The much-delayed elections of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) will be conducted on August 12, it was announced on Friday, but the state of Maharashtra will not be part of the poll process as Returning Officer Justice MM Kumar declared that both rival factions were ineligible for participation. The ad-hoc panel had scheduled the elections for July 6 but it was forced to reschedule the polls to July 11 after disaffiliated state bodies from Maharashtra, Haryana, Telangana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh approached it for a hearing, claiming that their dismissal was not appropriate. Panel heard the aggrieved representatives of the state bodies but the polls could not go ahead even on July 11 with Gauhati High Court staying the elections after Assam Wrestling Association (AWA) sought right to participate in the poll process. The Supreme Court then paved the way for elections on Tuesday after staying the Gauhati High Court order. The electoral college will now have 48 members wit

Delhi court grants regular bail to outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh

A Delhi court on Thursday granted regular bail to outgoing WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a case of sexual harassment of women wrestlers. The court also allowed the bail application of suspended Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) assistant secretary Vinod Tomar. I am granting bail on a bond of Rs 25,000 each with certain conditions, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Harjeet Singh Jaspal said. The metropolitan court directed the accused not to leave the country without its prior permission and not offer any inducement to witnesses in the case. The Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet against the six-time MP on June 15 under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The court had earlier in the day reserved its order on the bail applications of Singh and Tomar. The judge reserved the order after hearing ...

Delhi court to hear regular bail plea of outgoing WFI chief at 4 pm

A Delhi court on Thursday reserved for later in the day the order on regular bail application of outgoing WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a case of sexual harassment of women wrestlers. The judge reserved the order after hearing arguments from the counsel appearing for the accused, the prosecution as well as the complainants. Will pass order at 4 PM, the judge said. During the hearing, the public prosecutor, representing Delhi Police, asked the court to try the accused as per law and impose certain conditions if relief was granted. When the court asked the prosecutor if he was opposing the bail application, he said, I am neither opposing nor supporting. Application should be dealt as per law and the order passed by the Supreme Court, he told the court. The counsel, appearing for the complainants, opposed the application, saying the accused was very influential. Bail should not be granted. If at all it is granted, strict conditions must be imposed. Witnesses hav

Delhi HC seeks WFI's stand on challenge to Asian Games trials exemption

The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to state before it the basis for the exemption grant to wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia from the Asian Games trials. Justice Subramonium Prasad, while hearing a petition by Under-20 World Champion Antim Panghal and Under-23 Asian Champion Sujeet Kalkal against the direct entry handed to Phogat and Punia, asked the sporting body to file its response during the day. "If it (basis for selection) is just, fair and reasonable, it is the end of the matter," said the judge as he listed the matter for hearing on Friday. The court asked the counsel for the WFI to state what was the basis for selection besides Phogat and Punia being good sportspersons. Phogat (53kg) and Punia (65kg) were given direct entries for the Asian Games by the Indian Olympic Association's ad-hoc committee on Tuesday while other wrestlers will have to book their places in the Indian squad through selection trials on July 22 and ..

Asian Games 2023: Final call on wrestling squad ahead of departure - IOA

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Wednesday said the final assessment of the country's wrestling contingent for the upcoming Asian Games will be made prior to players' departure for China to "maximise the chances of sending the most competitive team". The IOA said in a statement that "the selection process for wrestlers to participate in the Asian Games is designed to be fair, transparent and in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the International Federation (UWW)". IOA statement came after country's promising junior wrestlers moved the Delhi High Court, demanding a fair trial as ad-hoc panel exempted Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat from Asian Games trials. However IOA officials did not elaborate if assessment will be relevant after sending entries. Several calls to IOA officials went unanswered. "The Selection Committee, comprising experienced officials and experts, has recently published the norms for selection of wrestlers, so that the entry process of the team .

WFI elections likely on August 7 after series of postponements: Report

The much-awaited Wrestling Federation of India (WFI)elections are likely to be held on August 7 following a series of postponements, sources in the IOA ad-hoc panel said on Wednesday. The WFI elections were earlier scheduled to be conducted on July 11 but the Gauhati High Court had stayed the polls, following Assam Wrestling Association's (AWA) plea seeking right to participate in the poll process. The roadblock was cleared after the Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the Gauhati High Court order. The Assam association had claimed that it was entitled to be an affiliated member of the WFI with voting rights but it was denied recognition by the national federation despite its Executive Committee recommending the same on November 15, 2014. "The discussions happened today. The issue of five disputed state bodies is still being discussed. Unless that issue resolved, a final list of electoral college can't be prepared. But in all likelihood, the elections will be held on August 7," said a

WFI elections now to be held on August 7 following series of postponements

The much-awaited Wrestling Federation of India elections will be held on August 7 following a series of postponements, according to sources in the parent body. The WFI elections were earlier scheduled to be conducted on July 11 but the Gauhati High Court had stayed the polls, following Assam Wrestling Association's (AWA) plea seeking right to participate in the poll process. The state association had claimed that it was entitled to be an affiliated member of the WFI with voting rights but it was denied recognition by the national federation despite its Executive Committee recommending the same on November 15, 2014. The Gauhati High Court had stayed the polls on June 25, the last date to submit names for the electoral college. The roadblock was cleared on Tuesday after the Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed an order of the Gauhati High Court. The WFI, before being suspended by the sports ministry, had set May 7 as the election date. The sports ministry had ordered the WFI to suspend