The Delhi High Court on Friday sought response of the city police and wrestlers on a plea by former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Singh seeking early hearing of his petition to quash an FIR lodged against him by several women wrestlers. Singh has sought preponement of the date of hearing in the main petition which is listed on January 13, 2025, on the grounds that the matter is at the stage of recording prosecution evidence in the trial court and by the time the case will come up before the high court, most of the witnesses will be examined. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri issued notice to the Delhi Police and the wrestlers on the application in which Singh has also urged the high court to direct the trial court not to proceed in the criminal case till disposal of his pending petition. The high court asked the police and the wrestlers to file their replies to the application and listed it for hearing on December 16. During the brief hearing, Singh, represented by advoca
Indian wrestler-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat criticised Indian Olympic Association President for meeting her for optics and not showing 'genuine' support during a difficult time
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the stand of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) on a petition by wrestler Bajrang Punia challenging his suspension. Justice Sanjeev Narula issued notice to the agency on the plea which has been filed ahead of the Senior World Wrestling Championships to be held in Albania in October. As the senior counsel appearing for the athlete pressed for an interim relief, the judge remarked that no formal application has been filed for the same. "This is a classic case of hounding someone...World Championship is round the corner. I have to practice," senior advocate Rajiv Dutta said. The court, however, questioned Punia on his refusal to submit a sample for the testing, asking, "how will they let you play if you don't test". Punia's counsel asserted that there were issues concerning the use of an "outdated kit" and he has sought answers from authorities. The counsel for NADA said a disciplinary panel has been constituted, which is looking into the
Wrestler and Congress candidate Vinesh Phogat on Sunday said she expects to win each battle with the blessings of people as kicks off her campaign for the upcoming assembly election. Phogat (30) has been fielded from the Julana assembly segment for the upcoming assembly poll. Polling in Haryana will take place on October 5 while the counting of votes for the elections to the 90-member assembly will take place on October 8. Phogat was accorded a warm welcome when she reached Julana as her supporters, including elderly people and women and members of various 'Khaps', greeted her with garlands and gave their blessings. The Congress had on Friday released its first list of 32 candidates for the Haryana Assembly polls, naming her among the party candidates. Olympians Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, who were at the forefront of the wrestlers' protest against then WFI chief and former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, entered the political arena on Friday by joining the Congress. Stand
Vinesh expressed her happiness after meeting the Congress leader and recounted her experience during the protest in a sexual harassment case against ex-MP and former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat has submitted her resignation from the Indian Railways and is set to join the Congress party on September 6
The Delhi High Court on Thursday granted time to former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and ex-BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to file contentions for seeking quashing of the FIR and charges framed against him in a sexual harassment case lodged by several women wrestlers. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna granted two weeks to Singh and listed the matter for further hearing on September 26. Petitioner seeks time to prepare a short note raising all the contentions for seeking quashing of the charge sheet and all other proceedings emanating therefrom. Two weeks are granted to do so, the court said. The plea was opposed by the counsel for the State and the victims who contended that it was not maintainable. The complaints were made by six women wrestlers and the trial court found that the complaint of one of them was time barred so it framed charges based on the complaints of five victims, senior advocate Rebecca John submitted, adding that, this shows there was a deep applicatio
Feisty wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Saturday said that under "different circumstances" she could see herself competing till 2032 because she still has a lot of wrestling left in her but is now unsure about her future as things "might never be same again". Vinesh had announced her retirement from the sport after her disqualification from the women's 50kg final for being overweight by 100gms. She had challenged the decision in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) but her appeal was dismissed. In an emotional post on social media, Vinesh shared her childhood dream, the hardships she faced after losing her father and also put on record the contribution made by people in her extraordinary journey that ended in heartbreak in Paris. "....all I want to say is that we did not give up, our efforts did not stop, and we did not surrender but the clock stopped and the time was not fair. So was my fate," she wrote, referring to the work she did with her team before the second day weigh-in. "To
The Delhi High Court on Friday restored the mandate of IOA's ad hoc committee for Wrestling Federation of India on a plea seeking a stay on the functioning of the WFI in its present form and prevent it from undertaking any activity as a national federation for the sport. While passing the interim order on the plea by celebrated wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and her husband Satyawart Kadian, Justice Sachin Datta said it was open to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) re-constituting the committee. The wrestlers, who were at the forefront of last year's protest at Jantar Mantar demanding the arrest of outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for alleged sexual harassment of seven women grapplers, had moved the high court earlier this year for setting aside and declaring as illegal the elections held to elect the office bearers of the federation held in December. Sanjay Singh, a Brij Bhushan loyalist, was elected the new WFI .
Vinesh Phogat disqualification: Actor-turned-politician Hema Malini called Vinesh Phogat disqualification 'a lesson for all' to keep their weight in check, sparking online chatter
Vinesh Phogat, who typically competes in the 53 kg category, decided to switch to the 50 kg weight category for her bid in the Paris Olympic Games
She had to work harder on her fitness levels so that she remained at the top of her game against quicker and more agile wrestlers in this category
Social media erupted with conspiracy theories on wrestler Vinesh Phogat's disqualification, where sports enthusiasts questioned how she could gain two kilograms in a day, especially after a match
Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the 50kg freestyle wrestling final at the 2024 Paris Olympics for being overweight
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is embroiled in a major controversy involving sexual harassment allegations against him by some of the top wrestlers, including Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik
A Delhi court has formally levelled charges against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, head of Wrestling Federation of India, for sexual harassment, stalking and criminal intimidation of 5 women wrestlers
Wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Vines Phogat and Satyawrat Kadiyan have moved the Delhi High Court against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) decision to conduct selection trials for the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships 2024 and Asian Olympic Games Qualifier Wrestling Tournament.The plea stated that the suspended Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is conducting selection trials for the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships 2024 and Asian Olympic Games Qualifier Wrestling Tournament notified through its circular dated February 26, 2024, against the directives of the Ad-Hoc Committee for Wrestling Federation of India by Indian Olympic Association and Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.The petitioners claim that they, along with numerous other athletes, have been selectively targeted and harassed by WFI for being evidently vocal, outspoken and critical of WFI's blatant illegalities and corrupt malpractices including but not limited to allegations of sexual ...
The wrestlers requested the Centre to take a decision quickly, or else they would be forced to start the protests again
Retired Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik has launched a scathing attack on the country's iconic sportspersons PT Usha and Mary Kom for not extending support to the public protests by a group of female wrestlers over sexual harassment charges against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Though Usha and Mary Kom were celebrated as "inspirations" by sportspersons like her, they did not speak up for the aggrieved woman wrestlers despite listening to their stories, Malik said. The Olympic medal winner was speaking during a recent session held as part of the ongoing Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL) 2024 at Kanakakkunnu here. Expressing shock over the response of the legendary sports stars towards their agitation, she said both of them had assured all support to wrestlers but did nothing to find any solution. "P T Usha madam had visited our protest venue. We told her in detail about our issues... She could have supported us...But she
Top Indian wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat hit out at the suspended Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Saturday, saying the national championships organised by them in Pune had "no value" and the certificates handed out were "fake". The affairs of wrestling sport are being run by the Indian Olympic Association-constituted ad-hoc body, while the newly-elected WFI, led by Sanjay Singh, has been suspended by the sports ministry for violating its own constitution. The suspended WFI, despite being warned of legal action by the ministry for organising the 'nationals', went ahead with the tournament in Pune from January 29-31. The IOA ad-hoc committee is also organising the national championships here in Jaipur from February 2-5, and Sakshi said on the sidelines of the tournament that the suspended WFI is just trying to show off its strength by organising the 'nationals' in Pune. "They (WFI) have just conducted a parallel national championship and distributed fake certificate