Page 11 - Wrestling

Filing of FIR against Brij Bhushan is first step towards victory: Wrestlers

The protesting wrestlers rejoiced "the first step towards victory" as Delhi Police decided to file an FIR against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh but they will continue their agitation and demanded that the BJP MP be removed from all the positions he holds. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi Police, told a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha that the FIR would be registered on Friday. The wrestlers, who have accused WFI chief of sexual harassment and intimidation, have been demanding that an FIR be filed since they resumed their agitation on April 23. "This is first step towards victory but our protest will continue," Sakshi Malik told reporters at Jantar Mantar, where they put up huge banners, with one of those listing all the ongoing criminal proceedings against Brij Bhushan. Vinesh Phogat said it took Delhi Police six days to file an FIR and they don't trust the probe agency. "It (Police) might file a lo

'I would wish for death...', says WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh amid row

The video comes amid fresh protests and sit-in launched by Indian wrestlers against Singh on allegations of sexual harassment and mistreating of athletes

Always wanted an impartial probe, wrestlers to present their case: Thakur

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday said the government gave ample chance to the protesting wrestlers to present their case before the oversight committee, and reiterated its commitment to an "impartial probe" into the charges against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Decorated wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik are the three central characters in the renewed protests against the Wrestling Federation of India president, who has been accused of sexual harassment and intimidation by the grapplers. "A few wrestlers are sitting in protest at Jantar Mantar. I have spent 12 hours hours with them -- seven hours on the first day and five hours the next day. I had listened to all their grievances, held a press conference at 2-2.30 at night, formed a committee after talking to them. "They had asked to add a member and gave Babita Phogat's name and we added her to the committee. There is nothing in our mind, we wanted an impartial probe," Thakur said at a press ..

Wrestlers protesting on streets tarnishing India's image: IOA Prez PT Usha

Coming down heavily on the aggrieved wrestlers, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha on Thursday said the grapplers protesting on the streets amounts to indiscipline and is tarnishing the country's image. Decorated wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi malik are the three central characters in the renewed protests against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation by the grapplers. "Wrestlers staging protest on streets amounts to indiscipline. It is tarnishing the image of India," Usha told reporters after IOA's Executive Committee meeting. The IOA also instituted a three-member adhoc panel, including former shooter Suma Shirur, Wushu Association of India chief Bhupendra Singh Bajwa and headed by a yet-to-be-named retired high court judge, to run the affairs of the WFI until a new body is elected. The IOA and the government had managed to placate the wrestlers

Brij Bhushan isn't hiding, will expose protesters' lies soon: WFI official

The Chief Justice replied that the court would also not want to do something unless there is some material

Please listen to our 'Mann Ki Baat': Protesting wrestlers to PM Modi

"Why are you not listening to our 'Mann Ki Baat'," the protesting wrestlers asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday and sought his time to discuss the sexual harassment allegations against his party's MP and WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Country's top wrestlers resumed their agitation against the wrestling federation's chief on Sunday, three months after they ended their sit-in protest following the formation of an oversight committee to probe into the serious allegations. The Sports Ministry has not yet made public the findings of six-member oversight panel that submitted its report on April 5. The wresters on Wednesday said they are surprised that PM Modi felicitates them and clicks pictures with them when they win medals but now he has turned a blind eye to their plight when they are on road, seeking justice. "PM Modi sir talks about 'Beti Bachao' and 'Beti Padhao', and listens to everyone's 'Mann Ki Baat'. Can't he listen to our 'mann ki baat'? He invites us to h

IOA EC meeting on April 27 for actionable solutions on WFI impasse

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Monday said it will hold its Executive Council meeting on Thursday to look for "actionable solutions" to end the current impasse in the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). IOA president PT Usha said the Olympic body decided to hold the meeting at the earliest after the sports ministry stalled the federation's election on May 7 and asked the sport's governing body to constitute an ad-hoc committee and conduct the polls within 45 days of its formation. As per the government directive, the ad-hoc panel will also manage day-to-day affairs of the WFI till the sports body gets a fresh Executive Committee. "In light of the letter received from GoI-MYAS, IOA undertakes the urgency of the matter. Our scheduled EC meet on 27 April will discuss & provide actionable solutions to the current impasse in WFI. IOA is committed to the betterment of our sportspersons & its sporting ecosystem," Usha tweeted. The ministry's decision came after the ...

All political parties can join, say wrestlers seeking action on WFI chief

As top wrestlers resumed their sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar here in the national capital demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Wrestlers back to protest at Jantar Mantar: Everything you need to know

India's star wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, returned to Jantar Mantar to protest on Sunday after a three-month hiatus

NCP wants Thakur, Irani to step in to resolve issues raised by wrestlers

Sharad Pawar's NCP said on Sunday that Union ministers Anurag Thakur and Smriti Irani should step in to address the concerns raised by top wrestlers protesting here against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh. "(Youth Affairs And Sports Minister) Anurag Thakur and Smriti Irani must intervene immediately and ask the Delhi Police, which works under the Union home ministry, to take immediate action. If they cannot do this for people who have won laurels for our country, then what can common citizens expect?" NCP spokesperson Clyde Crasto asked. India's top wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, returned to the protest site Jantar Mantar on Sunday and demanded that the government make public the findings of an oversight panel that investigated sexual harassment allegations against Singh. The six-member oversight panel, headed by legendary boxer MS Mary Kom, had submitted its report in the first week of April but the government has not yet .

Nothing has been done so far to resolve our issues: Wrestler Bajrang Punia

The wrestlers had protested against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) in January this year

CWG Meet: India makes a strong case for inclusion of wrestling, kabaddi

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Sunday made a strong case for the inclusion of archery, wrestling and kabaddi as regular sports in Commonwealth Games roster at CGF's Asia and Oceania regional meet. While kabaddi has never been a part of CWG programme, shooting and archery are two disciplines where Indian athletes have had excellent performances in past editions before it was done away during previous Games in Birmingham. The Indian delegation, led by IOA president PT Usha along with its acting CEO and joint secretary Kalyan Chaubey and executive council member Lt Gen Harpal Singh met the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) President Dame Louise Martin and her team to discuss and deliberate topics for development of Indian sports with regards to the strategic plan being proposed by CGF. "I welcome the steps taken on return of shooting in the 2026 Victoria Commonwealth Games. At the same time, we have sought the intervention of the CGF leadership to make Archery, Wrestling an

Endeavor group to acquire Vince McMahon's WWE for $9 billion: Report

Endeavor has been pursuing Vince McMahon's WWE for the past few months, eager to combine the wrestling league with its UFC and become the undisputed king of combat entertainment

If everybody saying same thing then it can't be lie: Vinesh Phogat on WFI

Thanking all the people and sportspersons who supported their protest against the Wrestling Federation Of India, Vinesh Phogat said that they don't have to prove that they are telling the truth

Two more weeks to complete investigation against WFI chief Brij Bhushan

The Sports Ministry has extended by two weeks the deadline given to the Oversight Committee to submit its report on sexual harassment allegations against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The Committee, led by legendary boxer MC Mary Kom, was formed on January 23 to investigate into the claims made by country's top wrestlers that Brij Bhushan has sexually harassed several women wrestlers and intimidates the athletes. The wrestlers had not provided the names of the 'victims'. The committee, which is running the day-to-day functioning of the sports body, was asked to submits its report in four weeks. The ministry extended the deadline following requests from the committee members and now it will submit its report by March 9. "The Sports Ministry has given a two-week extension to the Oversight Committee for the submission of its report, following a request," a ministry source told PTI. The ministry was forced to form the panel after top Indian wrestlers, including Bajrang Pun

WFI row a wake-up call for sports bodies to prioritise women safety

The WFI hit back and said that the protest was baseless and driven by a "hidden agenda to dislodge the current management", which led to even sharper reactions from the wrestlers

Wrestling row: Sports Ministry likely to add more members in committee

Notably, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, and Sakshi Malik had shown their displeasure, saying that the government did not consult them before forming the oversight committee

Mary Kom to lead oversight Committee to probe against WFI president

Boxing great MC Mary Kom will lead a five-member Oversight Committee that will probe sexual harassment charges against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The government-appointed Committee will also run the day-to-day affairs of WFI for the next one month. The other members of the panel are Olympic medallist wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, former badminton player and Mission Olympic Cell member Trupti Murgunde, ex-TOPS CEO Rajagopalan and former SAI executive director - teams - Radhika Sreeman. The announcement of the panel was made by Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday. Thakur had decided to form the Committee on Saturday following a three-day sit-in protest by some of the country's top wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Ravi Dahiya against WFI and Singh.

Plea in Delhi HC against wrestlers who protested against WFI chief

The plea alleged that the Protestors/Wrestlers have completely misused the sexual harassment laws by making them a mockery of justice

Sports Ministry suspends WFI assistant secy Vinod Tomar, cancels tournament

The ministry said it has also directed the WFI to suspend "all ongoing activities with immediate effect", including the Ranking Tournament in Gonda, UP, Sharan's stronghold