Page 8 - Wrestling

Asian Games: Wrestling trials exemption - HC to pronounce order on Saturday

The Delhi High Court on Friday said it will pass an order on July 22 on a challenge to the exemption granted to top wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia from Asian Games trials. Justice Subramonium Prasad reserved verdict on the petition by Under-20 World Champion Antim Panghal and Under-23 Asian Champion Sujeet Kalkal against the direct entry handed to Phogat and Punia. The endeavour of the court is not to find who is better. The endeavour is to see whether the process has been followed or not, the judge said during the proceedings. 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 23. Panghal and Kalkal challenged the exemption and demanded a fair selection process for the quadrennial showpiece. The petition, moved by advocates Hrishikesh Baruah and Akshay Kumar, demanded t

Asian Games 2023: Two Ad-hoc panel members favoured two-stage trials

IOA ad-hoc committee panel members Ashok Garg and Gian Singh favoured a two-stage trial to pick the Indian wrestling squad for the Asian Games and did not recommend exemption to any wrestler, it has come to light. Garg and Singh were made members of the IOA ad-hoc panel as technical experts and have been making suggestions to the committee for some time. An undated suggestion circular, signed by both Singh and Garg, explained that they favoured a two-stage trial instead of giving direct entries to six protesting wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat. "The circular was submitted to ad-hoc panel head Bhupender Singh Bajwa," said an ad-hoc panel source. The circular mentions that "trials should be held in the first week of August and if not possible then as soon as possible". It further read that, "If trials are held earlier, then top-3 finishers in six weight categories -- men's freestyle 65kg, 86kg, 97kg and women's 53kg, 62kg and 68kg -- should be pitted against the

Wrestling: Protest against Asian Games trials exemption reaches IOA door

Several junior wrestlers and their families, demanding fair Asian Games trials, carried their protest to the doors of IOA on Thursday and vowed not to leave the headquarters of the apex sports body till exemption given to Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat is withdrawn. The inexplicable delay by the IOA ad-hoc panel in announcing the selection criteria and the subsequent exemption granted to Bajrang and Vinesh had infuriated the wrestling fraternity which termed the decision as unjust and unfair. Wrestlers from training centres in Rohtak (Chhotu Ram Akhada), Narela (Virender Singh's centre), Hisar (Baba Lal Das Akhada) Delhi (Hanuman Akhada and Chhatrasal Satdium), along many senior citizens, including women, belonging to the junior wrestlers gathered at the Olympic Bhawan. Around 100 people gathered outside the Olympic Bhawan and urged IOA Secretary General Kalyan Chaubey to ensure fair trial. The IOA official after a round of meeting with his colleagues met the protesters and assure

Asian Games 2023: Never demanded exemption from trials - Sakshi Malik

Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik on Thursday said she never demanded any exemption from Asian Games trials despite the IOA ad-hoc panel offering to consider her case just like compatriots Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia. She also alleged that the move to exempt Vinesh and Bajrang from trials is an attempt by the government to "break the unity of the wrestlers." Sakshi, who competes in the 62 kg category, along with Vinesh (53 kg) and Bajrang (65 kg), was at the forefront of the protest against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who on Thursday got bail from a Delhi court after the police charge-sheeted him on allegations of sexual harassment. The IOA ad-hoc panel led by Bhupinder Bajwa courted controversy on Tuesday after granting exemptions to Bajrang and Vinesh without following due protocols, forcing U-20 world champion Antim Panghal and 65 kg grappler Sujit Kalkal to approach the Delhi High Court to get the decision overturned. "As you a

3 NSFs reported cases of sexual harassment in last 3 years: Anurag Thakur

The Sports Ministry on Thursday said the POSH Act, 2013 (Sexual Harassment at Workplace) is applicable to all National Sports Federations and in the last three years, only four NSFs have reported complaints of such nature. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur made the disclosure during a written reply in Rajya Sabha on Thursday. "Prohibition and Redressal) (POSH) Act, 2013 are applicable to all National Sports Federations (NSFs), as applicable to any entity defined in the Act. The NSFs are bound to take action in terms of the extant legal provisions in the cases of sexual harassment reported to them. "The Ministry has also issued instructions to all NSFs from time-to-time on the prevention of sexual harassment in sports," Thakur wrote in his reply during the question hour in Rajya Sabha. "Based on the information provided about complaints of sexual harassment during the last three years and the current year by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and all the presently recognised NSFs, fou

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 .

Young wrestlers in Hisar protest against trial exemption to Bajrang, Vinesh

Junior world champion Antim Panghal along with several other wrestlers of national repute were out on the streets on Wednesday to protest against IOA ad-hoc panel's "unfair" decision to exempt Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat from the Asian Games trials. The protesting wrestlers including Panghal, family members of Vishal Kaliraman, who competes in Bajrang's category, assembled at Chhotu Ram Chowk in Hisar, demanding that trials be conducted in all weight categories. Wrestlers from Baba Laldas Akhada in Hisar and the famous Chhatrasal Stadium in New Delhi also joined the protest along with senior citizens from nearby villages. "We are here to protest against this decision of the IOA ad-hoc panel. We are here today and will decide later in the evening if we have to comeback tomorrow," Ram Niwas, Panghal's father, told PTI. Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang (65kg) and World championship medallist Vinesh (53kg) led the month-long wrestlers' protest at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar ...

Sujeet slams IOA committee for granting trial exemption to Bajrang Punia

The reigning U23 Asian champion Sujeet Kalkal on Wednesday slammed the IOA ad-hoc committee for granting direct entry to Bajrang Punia for the Asian Games, saying it was unfair on the next generation wrestlers who aspire to become Olympic champions. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) ad-hoc panel, led by Bhupender Singh Bajwa, on Tuesday exempted Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang (65kg freestyle) Vinesh Phogat (53kg) from the Asian Games trials on July 22-23 here. Kalkal, the U20 world championship bronze medallist, said that there are at least 5-6 wrestlers in the 65kg freestyle category who are capable of beating Bajrang. "I had wrestled with Bajrang a year back during the (Birmingham) Commonwealth Games trials, which was very close. During the trials, Bajrang was handed a direct semifinals entry and we had to contest all the bouts," said Kalkal, the reigning senior national champion and last year's Junior Asian gold medallist. Proving his point further, Kalkal said he had

WFI election: Supreme Court lifts Gauhati HC stay, orders polls immediately

The Gauhati High Court had put WFI elections on hold after Assam Wrestling Association filed a petition over its right to participate in the polls

Asian Games 2023: Why wrestlers Vinesh, Bajrang get exemption for trials?

Bajrang secured Bronze in Tokyo Olympics and Belgrade's Worlds while Vinesh had a podium finish in the same worlds

Asian Games: Women wrestlers write to PM Modi, IOA, SAI for fair trials

Several women wrestlers, including medal winners from Commonwealth Games and Asian Championship, on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the ad-hoc panel running the WFI, requesting "fair trials" for Asian Games amidst reports that the six protesting grapplers may be given exemption. The 24 women wrestlers from Sir Chhotu Ram Akhada in Rohtak, who also wrote to SAI Director General Sandeep Pradhan, have conveyed that they won't accept two-stage trial or any another relaxation given to the protesting grapplers. The IOA-appointed ad-hoc panel has announced that Asian Games trials will be held on July 22-23 but did not reveal the criteria. The wrestlers are even preparing to hit the roads for a fresh protest and approach the judiciary if any discriminatory decision is taken by the IOA ad-hoc committee. Panel head Bhupender Singh Bajwa had on June 16 conveyed to the six protesting wrestlers -- Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Mali

Indian wrestlers: Asian Games organisers reject IOA request for extension

The Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (HAGOC) has rejected the IOA's request for further extension of deadline for sending entries by name of the Indian wrestling team for the continental multi-sporting event. The IOA had earlier requested the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to extend the deadline to send entries by name of the Indian wrestlers to August 5, but they were only given an extension of seven days (July 22). The HAGOC has set July 15 as the date for all competing countries to send the names of their athletes for the Asian Games (September 23 to October 8). On Monday, the IOA again requested the OCA to re-consider extending the date to sometime in August, which was finally been rejected by HAGOC. "The Hangzhou Organising Committee has rejected the IOA's request for further extension. They conveyed it to the OCA and OCA has told this to the IOA," an Indian Olympic Association source told PTI. With the July 22 deadline fast approaching for picking the Indian wrestlin

Ad-hoc panel fails to set trials date, asks IOA to approach OCA again

Barely 10 days left for the extended deadline to expire for picking the Indian wrestling team, the IOA ad-hoc panel has yet again failed to set a date for the Asian Games trials, leaving the wrestling fraternity perplexed and confounded. While the OCA has set July 15 as deadline for all nations to send athletes' entries by names for the Games, the continental body had extended the deadline to send details of the Indian wrestling squad till July 22 under "exceptional circumstances." However, despite getting an additional one week, the ad-hoc panel could not decide on a date for trials after a marathon meeting on Monday. Instead, it decided that IOA should approach the OCA again for further extension. "We have requested IOA president (PT Usha) to use her office to urge the OCA to extend the date beyond July 22," Ashok Garg one of the ad-hoc committee members told PTI after the meeting. "Nothing else came out of the meeting. We are hopeful of a positive response from the OCA. We spoke

Wrestling trials to take place from July 20 after assurance from OCA

The trials to short-list the wrestlers for the Asian Games will likely take place around July 20 after an "unofficial" assurance was given by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) with regard to extending the deadline for sending entries by names to the organisers of the quadrennial extravaganza. The OCA has set July 15 as deadline for sending entries by name to the Asian Games organisers but following efforts made by the Indian Olympic Association's ad-hoc committee for wrestling, the OCA is reportedly contemplating extending the deadline. But assurances apart, the duration of relaxation has so far not been shared with the ad-hoc panel. Gian Singh, a member of the ad-hoc panel, told PTI that, "There is so far no mail from the OCA (regarding granting extension) but unofficially they have said that they are willing to relax the dates for sending entries by name. But they have not confirmed the duration of the relaxation. Until we get a confirmation, we cannot say whether they will extend

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