WFI elections now to be held on August 7
The protesting wrestlers on Friday reached out to Indian Olympic Association (IOA), demanding formation of an inquiry committee to probe the allegations of sexual harassment they have levelled against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The crisis in Indian hockey was resolved on Wednesday after Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi brokered a compromise deal between the game's administrators and striking players, who have been promised immediate disbursement of Rs one crore.
A former world champion, Sindhu is one of the favourites to win the women's singles gold medal in Birmingham, having won the silver and bronze in the last two editions at Gold Coast and Glasgow.
The 36-year-old Keshavan, the country's best known Winter Olympian, will be taking part in his sixth Games since his debut at Nagano in Japan in 1998. Since then he has represented the country in the 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics.
The ministry's decision came after the country's top wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, resumed their sit-in protest in New Delhi on Sunday and demanded the public disclosure of the findings of the oversight panel that investigated the sexual harassment allegations against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Soon after the new dates were announced, IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta said, "Indian Olympic Association along with the National Sports Federations welcome and support the new dates for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which will be held from 23 July to 8 August, 2021."
'Vinesh you are a gold medalist of courage and morality.'
IOA also said that the member State Olympic Associations "will also receive a sum of Rs 15 lakh each, as a contribution from IOA towards developing sports infrastructure in the states and in encouraging more athletes to take up sports."
The International Olympic Committee has refused to recognise the elections conducted by the suspended Indian Olympic Association, saying the 'so-called' office-bearers have no legitimacy.
All India Football Federation (AIFF) appealed to the Sports Ministry, leading to this favorable decision.
The Indian flag was ceremonially hoisted at the Games village at a simple ceremony on Tuesday night.
Indian Olympic Association president Narinder Batra's father has tested positive for COVID-19 along with two of his attendants and as many security guards posted at his house. The IOA president shared the development in a statement and said he would be in self-quarantine at home for the next 17 days.
Indian Olympic Association president Narinder Batra hopes India's medal haul can touch the double-digit mark in Tokyo, which will be an unprecedented achievement.
The needs of Indian athletes during multi-sporting events are a tad more hard to satisfy than others, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Acting [resident Anil Khanna said on Thursday, referring to the controversy surrounding Lovlina Borgohain's coach Sandhya Gurung.
Sindhu, Lakshya to head India's campaign at Asian C'ships
The IOA elections were due in December last year but could not be held due to amendments in the poll process.
The top Indian Olympic Association (IOA) delegates were busy giving finishing touches to their action plan as they geared up for the crucial meeting with the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne to draw a roadmap for India's return to the Olympic fold.
By conducting the initial trials, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will be able to send wrestlers' names to Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) within the July 15 deadline but it can later replace the entries if protesting wrestlers end up beating the winners of the initial trials.
The Asian Games normally serves as the Olympic qualifiers but there was some confusion after the Hangzhou Asian Games were postponed from last year to this year due to the COVID-19 situation in China.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday set aside the stay imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on holding of elections to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
The Sports Ministry cleared the three Indian athletes qualified for next month's Winter Olympics at government cost despite the trio taking part in the Sochi Games as independent athletes.
Wrestlers busy getting daily passes for personal coaches after arrival at Games Village
Former India hockey captain Zafar Iqbal said the country's prominent athletes would write to the International Olympic Committee seeking its help for drawing up a blueprint for resurrecting sports in the country.
Rohan Bopanna has set his sight on the Paris Olympics 2024 starting July 26 after winning his maiden men's doubles grand slam.
The ace long jumper will carry the Indian flag in the opening ceremony of the Athens Olympics.
Former sprinter Ashwini Nachappa blasted the Indian Olympic Association for not advancing their elections scheduled on February 9, as a result of which Indian athletes will compete as independent sportspersons at next month's Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.
India's first world badminton champion P V Sindhu said her next aim is to bag the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
Seasoned Das and Tarundeep Rai among men and Deepika in the women's section will headline the Indian recurve archery contingent at the Games.
Former hockey captain P R Sreejesh was chosen for the Padma Bhushan, while Ravichandran Ashwin was among the Padma Shri winners.
United World Wrestling on Thursday suspended the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) with immediate effect in the wake of a delay in holding elections.
A day after India was suspended by the International Olympic Committee, Sports Minister Jitendra Singh said he does not have the mandate or the jurisdiction to interfere in the matter but will still try to engage with the IOC to get the ban reversed.
With the sword of suspension by the International Olympic Committee over its head, the Indian Olympic Association officials met Sports Minister Jitendra Singh on Friday in a bid to resolve the election dispute. A nine-member panel, which included president-designate Abhay Singh Chautala met the minister and urged the government to find a solution to the problem as soon as possible.
Around 150 people, including family members of the wrestlers, are seeking a meeting with Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P T Usha and ad-hoc panel chief Bhupender Singh Bajwa.
Indian football team's head coach Igor Stimac has called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention to ensure the team's participation at the Asian Games.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Monday
Asian Games gold medallist Hima Das said that she will continue to improve her timing and try to qualify for the Olympics in 2020.
Sarabjot Singh locked the Paris Olympics quota by winning a bronze medal in the men's 10m air pistol.
The reigning U23 Asian champion Sujeet Kalkal slammed the IOA ad-hoc committee for granting direct entry to Bajrang Punia for the Asian Games.
Terming the election a start of a new era in Indian archery, Dielen said: 'We are pleased to see this progress and hope that this is really the start of a new era for Indian Archery.'
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