Page 10 - Wrestling

Wrestlers want Asian Games trials in Aug, IOA approaches OCA for extension

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Friday approached the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), seeking an extension of the July 15 deadline for providing details of the country's wrestling squad for the Asian Games after the protesting grapplers requested the Sports Ministry to conduct trials in August. The IOA is required to submit lists of squads of all sporting disciplines to the OCA by July 15 and the apex sports body has already asked all the national federations to submit the final names of their respective selected players by June 30. The protesting wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, are now keen to compete in the Asian Games trials but need time to be in good physical shape, as they hardly got time to prepare due to their long-drawn protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. It has been learnt that the wrestlers wrote a letter to Deputy Sports Secretary SPS Tomar on Friday and the ministry official forwarded the request on Saturday to

Delhi Police chargesheets WFI chief, seeks cancellation of minor's case

The police also sought cancellation of the complaint filed by the minor wrestler against Singh as the police said that no corroborative evidence was found

None of Brij Bhushan's family members to contest WFI elections: Sources

The family members of outgoing WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will not contest the upcoming federation elections despite eligibility, reliable sources told PTI on Tuesday. The Wrestling Federation of India elections will be held on July 6 for the post of president, senior vice-president, four vice-presidents, secretary-general, treasurer, two joint secretaries, and five executive members. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had assured the protesting wrestlers that neither Singh's family members nor his associates will be allowed to contest the impending elections, following which they had halted their protest till June 15. Singh's son Karan Bhushan heads the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association while his son-in-law Aditya Pratap Singh is head of the Bihar unit. "They had a discussion and have decided that neither his son Karan nor his son-in-law Aditya will file nominations for WFI elections," a source close to the Singh family said. "In the current circumstances, it is not ...

WFI elections to be held on July 6, result on same day, says official

The Wrestling Federation of India's much awaited elections will take place on July 6, the returning officer announced in a notification issued on Tuesday. The announcement comes a day after the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) appointed retired high court judge Mahesh Mittal Kumar as the returning officer to set the poll process in motion. It was also notified that the results of the elections will also be announced on same day. The last date for receiving two nominations from each state and union territory for constituting the electoral college has been fixed as June 19 and the scrutiny will be completed by June 22. Each state unit can send two representatives and each representative shall have one vote. So, the electoral college for the WFI elections will consist of 50 votes. But it is learnt that a few state bodies, dissolved by the WFI in the past, have also staked their claim to participate in the elections. The returning office after going through the credentials of the ...

Waiting for verdict on wrestlers' row, will fight next polls: WFI chief

BJP MP and WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused of sexually harassing female wrestlers, Sunday said he will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Kaisarganj again and was awaiting the court's verdict to speak on the grapplers' stir. He was replying to queries from media persons after addressing a rally in the district's Balpur area where he skipped any direct reference to the wrestlers' protest for his arrest and chose to target the Congress over the Emergency, Ram temple, the 1984 anti-Sikhs riots and other issues. Asked by the reporters why he was not commenting on the wrestlers' protest and what was he waiting for, the BJP MP said, "Court ke faisle ka (court's verdict)." On whether he will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Gonda or Ayodhya, Singh said, "Kaiserganj Lok Sabha seat se chunav ladunga, ladunga, ladunga (I will definitely contest from Kaiserganj)." Brij Bhushan Singh has represented the Kaisarganj Lok Sabha constituency thrice -- once as an SP MP .

First step towards WFI elections, IOA ad-hoc panel gathers voters list

With the government setting a June 30 deadline for Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections, the IOA ad-hoc committee has taken the first step towards conducting the impending polls by gathering the voters list, which will be required to form the electoral college. The third member of the ad-hoc committee -- a retired high court judge under whose supervision the elections will be conducted -- is yet to be appointed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). "The judge will be appointed soon. We are already on the job. We have got the voters list from the previous set up," an IOA source told PTI. After the country's top wrestlers accused outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment and intimidation, the IOA, on the instruction of the Sports Ministry, had formed the ad-hoc committee on April 27 to manage the day-to-day affairs of the federation and also conduct its elections. The committee took charge on May 4 and is tasked with completing the election process

Father of minor wrestler admits filing false allegations against WFI chief

The father of the minor wrestler told PTI on Thursday that they deliberately filed a false police complaint of sexual harassment against WFI chief because they wanted to get back at him for the perceived injustice against the girl. The startling admission by the father substantially weakens the case against Brij Bhusha Sharan Singh who has relentlessly faced protest for the past six months by wrestlers, who have accused him of sexual harassment. The complaint by the minor wrester has also led to investigation under POCSO Act. "It's better that truth comes out now instead of court," he told PTI when asked why he is changing his story now. "Now that interactions have started, the government has promised fair enquiry into my daughter's defeat (in Asian U17 championship trials) last year, so it is also my duty that I rectify my mistake," he said. He also provided elaborated explanation for the origin of his and his daughter's animosity against Singh, who has vehemently denied the sexua

Wrestlers express intent to take part in Asian Games selection trials

A day after calling off their protest against outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh having received assurance from the government, the wrestlers on Thursday expressed intent to take part in the Asian Games selection trials scheduled to be held later this month. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday said that all national federations are aiming to finalise the squads for the Asian Games, well before the July 15 deadline set by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). The Games are set to take place in Hangzhou, China from September 23 to October 8. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had on April 27 announced that a three-member ad-hoc committee A two-member ad hoc committee of Bhupender Singh Bajwa and Suma Shirur, which is running the day-to-day affairs of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) since May 4 will be conducting the selection trials most likely in the last week of June. However, the wrestlers want some more time to get ready for the trials. "We want to take

Delhi police step up sexual harassment probe of wrestling chief Bhushan

The government has set a June 15 deadline to wrap up the investigation after the accusations made by some top wrestlers in January against the Brij Bhushan

IOA calls wrestling trials 'much-needed break' for 2500 participants

IOA has called the open selection trials of U-15 and U-20 wrestlers a 'fair and transparent' affair, and a 'much-needed break' for the 2500 participants

Wrestlers get exemption from offices for sports, not for protest: Coach

Sakshi, Vinesh and Bajrang resumed their work on May 31, few days after the protesting wrestlers were evicted from Jantar Mantar in Delhi -- where they had been protesting since April

Wrestlers Protest: Vinesh, Sakshi reach Haridwar to immerse medals in Ganga

The country's top wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, along with hundreds of their supporters, reached Har ki Pauri to immerse their medals in the Ganga river even as police beefed up security arrangements near the area here on Tuesday. A huge crowd gathered in Har ki Pauri as the protesting wrestlers got ready to immerse their world and Olympic medals in the holy waters as a mark of protest against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment. Sakshi, Vinesh and her cousin Sangeeta were seen sobbing as their husbands tried to console them even as scores of their supporters formed a cordon around them. The wrestlers stood for about 20 minutes in silence after reaching Har ki Pauri. They then sat on the banks of the river holding their citations and looking emotionally distressed. The wrestlers, who were detained by Delhi Police and removed from their Jantar Mantar protest site on May 28,

Protesting wrestlers to immerse medals in Ganga: A timeline of events

Olympic medal winners Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik and World Championships medal winner Vinesh Phigat have decided to immerse their medals in the Ganga in Haridwar

Wrestlers allowed to protest at any place in Delhi other than Jantar Mantar

A day after the Delhi Police cleared the sit-in site of the protesting wrestlers, the security force on Monday said they will be allowed to demonstrate at a suitable place in the city other than Jantar Mantar. "The demonstration by the wrestlers was going on smoothly at the notified place of Jantar Mantar. On Sunday, the protestors flouted the law, ignoring our repeated requests. Hence, we cleared the site and ended the dharna," Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) tweeted in Hindi. "If the wrestlers will apply for permission to stage their sit-in again in the future, they will be allowed to do so at any suitable notified place other than Jantar Mantar," it said. Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia along with other protesters were booked for rioting and obstructing public servant in discharge of duty on Sunday after a scuffle with security personnel who tried to stop them from marching to the new Parliament building as it was being inaugurated. Soon after, t

New Parliament inauguration: High security ahead of wrestlers march

Delhi Police have increased the security in the national capital, including on its borders ahead of a march by wrestlers towards the newly-built Parliament building

Cancel culture, brand bias: Why celebs stay silent on uncomfortable issues

Taking a stand can also create sense of authenticity, build goodwill, say brand experts

Ad hoc committee takes full control of WFI day to day activities: Reports

Earlier on Saturday, the IOA debarred all outgoing WFI officials from undertaking any administrative WFI function with immediate effect

IOA may allow state associations to field candidates for Asian Games trials

The ad-hoc panel of the IOA is likely to allow the state wrestling associations to field deserving candidates in the Asian Games trials even if they do not meet the criteria of being a medal winners in one of the stipulated tournaments as per the new selection policy for the quadrennial extravaganza. The Asian Games trials are expected to be held in the third week of June. The final date will be notified this week. Postponed due to the COVID-19 last year, the Asian Games are set to unfold in the Chinese city of Hangzhou from September 23. The WFI had last year devised a policy which allowed only the medal winners from the National Championships, the national ranking tournaments, Federation Cup and international tournaments, apart from talented juniors, to compete in the trials. Ad-hoc panel member Bhupendra Singh Bajwa had initially suggested open trials but the coaches and referees advised them to restrict it to medal prospects only, according to IOA sources. "It would have been

Don't know what's happening: Ganguly's remark on wrestlers' protest

While many have come forward and voiced their concerns, Ganguly said, he would not like to talk on the matter without having complete knowledge

Will return medals if justice not delivered: Wrestling Coach Mahavir Phogat

Standing in support of the protesting wrestlers, Dronacharya award-winning coach Mahavir Singh Phogat on Friday threatened to return his medals if justice is not delivered, demanding the arrest of WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The wrestlers, including Olympic medallist duo of Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat, have been sitting on a protest in the national capital since April 23, demanding the arrest of the Wrestling Federation of India Chief and BJP MP Singh for alleged sexual harassment of seven wrestlers, including a minor. "I will return my medals if justice is not delivered in the case," Mahavir Phogat said. "The kind of allegations he faces, action should be taken against him and he should be arrested," Mahavir Phogat, who had joined BJP over three years ago, added. When asked if had talked to the government or raised the matter at party level, he said, "No there has been no talk so far." The protesting wrestlers had also ..