Category: wrestling

The much-awaited elections for the Executive Committee of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) will be held on July 6, returning officer retired high court judge Mahesh Mittal Kumar announced in a notification issued on Tuesday.

"They (wrestlers) have demanded that the investigation (into the charges against the WFI chief) should be concluded and a charge sheet be filed by June 15. WFI elections will be held by June 30," Thakur told reporters after a marathon meeting with the protesting wrestlers.

Notably, the country's top wrestlers, including Bajrang, Sakshi and Vinesh Phogat, have been protesting against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, alleging that he sexually harassed women grapplers, including a minor.

The father of a 17-year-old wrestler, who levelled sexual harassment charges against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, on late Sunday asserted that he has not withdrawn the charges.

Olympian wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat met Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence to discuss the matter related to their protest against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) boss.

The Delhi Police are yet to interrogate Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), in connection with the two FIRs registered against him on April 21, pertaining to serious allegations, including violations under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

"First the statements of our girls should be recorded before the magistrate under 164. That is not done yet. We are waiting for it, after that we will see what needs to be done in this regard."

The wrestlers protesting here at Jantar Mantar have written to Union Home Ministry seeking an strict action against officials responsible for the alleged manhandling of grapplers at the protest site on Wednesday night.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday called the sexual harassment allegations against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh "serious" and issued notice to the Delhi Police in the matter.

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat and other wrestlers have moved the Supreme Court seeking a direction for registration of an FIR against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

"Former wrestler Babita Phogat has been added to the panel of the Oversight Committee formed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to undertake the day-to-day administration of the Wrestling Federation of India," the Sports Ministry said in a statement.

The Salary of Shri Vinod Tomar was being reimbursed to the WFI by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) from the funds allocated under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations," the ministry wrote in the order.

The letter signed by Bajrang, Vinesh, Sakshi, Ravi Dahiya, and Deepak demands the resignation of the WFI chief and the formation of an inquiry committee on the allegations of sexual harassment.

The meeting between the Sports ministry officials and the delegation of four wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik here on Thursday failed to yield results as protesting grapplers were not satisfied with the response.

The Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold medallist broke down while speaking to reporters on Wednesday, as more than 30 wrestlers, including Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, staged a protest at the Jantar Mantar here.