Wrestling Federation Of India

Brawls erupt at National Wrestling Championship, matches suspended

The ongoing National Wrestling Championship in Gujranwala descended into chaos on Saturday after altercations between wrestlers spiraled into physical brawls, involving team officials and supporters in the crowd, forcing the suspension of matches for the day. The incident began with a minor dispute between Wapda's Irfan Bhola and the Higher Education Commission's Ibrahim over a referee's decision to award a point to the former. Footage of the melee at the Jinnah stadium on TV channels showed the two wrestlers arguing after the point was awarded and later they started grappling and punching each other. In a few minutes players and officials of both teams were seen going after each other as the brawls spread between supporters as well in the crowds with footage showing punches and kicks being thrown freely. An organizer said security had to be called in to control the chaotic situation and to avoid any serious injuries to anyone. The matches are suspended and will resume later, he .

WFI challenges in Delhi HC order restoring mandate of IOA's ad-hoc panel

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) approached the Delhi High Court on Thursday, challenging an order granting liberty to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to reconstitute an ad-hoc panel for running the federation's affairs. The appeal came up before a bench of Acting Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, which listed it for hearing on December 18 as the lawyer for one of the parties was not available on Thursday. The WFI has challenged the August 16 interim order of a single-judge bench of the court that said the IOA's decision to dissolve the ad-hoc committee was incompatible with the sports ministry's order suspending the WFI shortly after its elections in December last year. The single judge had said until the suspension order was recalled, it was necessary for the ad-hoc committee to manage the federation's affairs. The order had come on a plea moved by celebrated wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and her husband, Satyawart ...

Babita wanted to be WFI chief, exploited wrestlers' protest: Sakshi Malik

Wrestler Sakshi Malik claims not Congress but two BJP leaders helped wrestlers secure permission to protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in Haryana

Wrestlers' harassment: HC asks Delhi Police's reply on Brij Bhushan's plea

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

Delhi court likely to resume hearing against ex-WFI chief on Sep 23

A Delhi court is likely to resume hearing in sexual harassment case by female wrestlers against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on September 23. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Priyanka Rajpoot, who was scheduled to record the statement of one of the complainants on Thursday, adjourned the matter after being informed that the wrestler could not appear before the court today. The court on May 10 ordered framing of sexual harassment and other charges against the BJP MP and former WFI chief in a case lodged by six female wrestlers, observing there was "sufficient evidence" against him. It had directed framing of charges against Singh, a six-time Lok Sabha MP, under IPC sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment) and 506 (criminal intimidation). The judge later on May 21 framed the charges after Singh pleaded not-guilty.

Hoodas used wrestlers like Pandavas put Draupadi at stake: Former WFI chief

Former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Sunday accused the Hooda family of Congress of conspiring against him by using wrestlers as wager just as Pandavas had put Draupadi at stake. Singh, a former chief of Wrestling Federation of India, was last year accused of sexual assault by several female wrestlers, who sat on a protest for weeks demanding a probe against him. At his residence on Sunday, he told reporters, "In the gambling which took place in Mahabharat, Draupadi was put at stake. The Pandavas lost. The country is still not able to accept their reasons for doing it." He added, "The Hooda family put the honour of daughters and sisters at stake. The future generation will not forgive them for this and they will always be held guilty for this." Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, who is an Olympic bronze-medallist, along with another Olympic bronze-winner Sakshi Malik spearheaded the agitation last year. Singh said, "Bajrang Punia's mental condition has deteriorated. He had pu

Aman Sehrawat one of the best wrestlers in the world: Coach Lalit Kumar

Dronacharya Award-winning trainer says he is confident that India will produce more champions

Might never be same again, don't know what future holds for me: Vinesh

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

Delhi HC restores IOA mandate on plea seeking stay on WFI's functioning

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 .

'It's part of game', Vinesh Phogat tells Indian coaches after losing medal

"It's part of the game," a brave Vinesh Phogat told the Indian coaches who met her after her shock disqualification from the Paris Olympics for weighing 100g more than the permissible limit in the women's 50kg category here on Wednesday. Women's national coach Virender Dahiya and Manjeet Rani met the feisty wrestler, who had caused a flutter at the wrestling arena by beating world number one and defending champion Yui Susaki in the opening round on Tuesday. As the nation prepared to celebrate Vinesh's medal-winning run -- she was assured of at-least a silver -- Vinesh was disqualified when she could not ace the second weigh-in. "It sent a shockwave through the wrestling contingent. The girls were feeling pretty low after the news broke. We met Vinesh and tried to console her. She was brave. She told us, 'it's hard luck that we missed the medal, but it is part of the game'," Dahiya said, sharing the details of their meeting. "Several IOA officials were also there to meet her." Ther

'Conspiracy theories' on Vinesh's expulsion; before her it was Narsingh

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

On Vinesh Phogat's win, Bajrang Punia's veiled jab at BJP: 'Placed thorns…'

Paris Olympics: Feisty wrestler Phogat etched her name in history as she defeated the defending Japanese wrestler Yui Susaki and Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez to enter Paris Olympics finals

Minor wrestler vs ex-WFI chief: Delhi court's final report likely on Sep 27

A Delhi court is likely to pronounce on September 27 its order on whether to accept a report filed by police seeking cancellation of a minor wrestler's complaint accusing ex-WFI chief and former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment. Additional Sessions Judge Chhavi Kapoor, who was scheduled to pass the order on Monday, adjourned the matter. Delhi Police had on June 15 last year filed a report before the court seeking cancellation of the case by the minor wrestler.

Wrestler Bajrang Punia calls Nada arrogant, says he is being targeted

Wrestler Bajrang Punia on Monday alleged that NADA was targeting him for pointing out flaws in their system and vowed to challenge the arrogance of the National Anti-Doping Agency, which he claimed wants to end his sporting career. Bajrang was suspended by NADA for the second time on June 24 after the wrestler got relief from the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) of the agency. The ADDP had lifted the first suspension on the grounds that NADA had not officially charged him for doping by serving the wrestler a formal notice. NADA then issued the notice to the Tokyo Games medallist and suspended him again. "This shows how NADA is targeting me, they don't want me to continue wrestling at any cost," Bajrang posted on X. Bajrang was suspended for refusing to provide his sample during the selection trials held in Sonepat on March 10. He had lost the trials and thus missed out on the chance to qualify for the Paris Olympics. The 30-year-old multiple-time World Championship medallist

'Galti kiye hi nahi': Brij Bhushan as court frames charges in wrestlers' case

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

BJP MP Brij Bhushan charged with sexual harassment of 5 women wrestlers

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

UWW suspends Bajrang; SAI okays abroad training but wrestler cancels trip

Wrestling's world governing body UWW has suspended Bajrang Punia till the end of this year following NADA's decision to hand him a provisional suspension for refusing to undergo a dope test. However, in a rather surprising decision, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) sanctioned close to Rs nine lakh for his training abroad despite being well aware of NADA's order. Bajrang, one of the country's most successful wrestlers, was suspended by NADA on April 23 after being served a whereabouts failure notice on April 18. In his defence, the Tokyo Olympics bronze-medallist said he never refused to give his sample for testing but merely asked the Dope Control Officer to explain the presence of expired kits which were brought to take his sample. Bajrang told PTI that he has not received any communication from the UWW about his suspension but the world governing body while updating its internal system clearly mentions that he stands suspended. "Suspended for the following reason until Dec 31

Sakshi Malik becomes first Indian wrestler to feature in Time's 100 list

Sakshi gave up wrestling on the day a faction led by Sanjay Singh, an aide of Brijbhushan Sharan Singh was elected to head WFI

HC asks sports ministry to respond to WFI's plea challenging suspension

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought the Centre's response on a plea by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) challenging its suspension. Justice Subramonium Prasad issued notice to the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and asked it to file its reply to the petition within four weeks. The high court listed the matter for further hearing on May 28. The Centre had suspended WFI on December 24, 2023, three days after it elected new office bearers, for allegedly not following the provisions of its own constitution while taking decisions. Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, representing WFI, submitted that no show cause notice was issued to the federation before taking the decision to indefinitely suspend it. He said the ministry's decision violates the constitutional provisions of WFI as well as the National Sports Code which contemplates issuance of show cause notice before such action and added that this was against the principles of natural justice. While suspending the W

IOA dissolves ad-hoc panel for wrestling, Sanjay Singh's WFI to take charge

The Indian Olympic Association on Monday dissolved the ad-hoc committee for wrestling, saying "there is no further need" for it to run the sport after revocation of the suspension on the national federation, which now gets complete administrative control. The IOA said that the decision was also guided the successful conduct of the selection trials for next month's Olympic qualifying tournament for which the panel collaborated with WFI. The ad-hoc committee was formed in December last year after the sports ministry suspended the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), which got a shot in the arm when the suspension imposed on it by the global governing body -- United World Wrestling -- was lifted in February. "The decision to dissolve the Adhoc Committee comes in light of the lifting of the ban on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) by the United World Wrestling (UWW) and the successful completion of Selection Trials by the Adhoc Committee appointed by the IOA as per the directives