India's women wrestlers push for reforms after sexual harassment case
OCA might not entertain Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) request for extending the July 15 deadline for providing details of the country's wrestling squad for the Asian Games.
To lend his support, Former Indian footballer Mehtab joined Mamata Banerjee's march for the protesting wrestler's.
'I'm so sad to see the visuals of our Athletes.... Please solve this ASAP'
We did not ask for exemption from trials, just asked for time to prepare: Wrestlers
Bajrang Punia criticised Brij Bhushan for his comments on the medal won by the grapplers.
Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia said few were trying to steer the movement in a different direction, but refused to name them.
'I also have full faith in the Government of India, who I am sure will take the correct step in the right direction in this regard. However, as the IOA President, I sincerely hope the athletes, under no circumstances, are denied their rights'
Later, authorities can decide whether the complaint is proper or not, Munde told reporters in Maharashtra's Beed district on Wednesday, adding that she expects action to be taken in the present case.
The IOA ad-hoc committee on Wednesday decided to hold much-awaited Asian Games wrestling trials on July 22-23.
India will go unrepresented in five categories at the upcoming Zagreb Open in Croatia as Bajrang Punia, Antim Panghal and three others didn't give consent for their selection to the ad-hoc panel that announced a 13-member team on Tuesday.
While the wrestlers braved tough weather conditions, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu demanded custodial interrogation of WFI President.
Top wrestlers have been staging a sit-in since April 23 and Vinesh Phogat said if Brij Bhushan attends the inauguration of the new Parliament then it'll send a clear message.
Country's top wrestlers including Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, accused the WFI chief of sexual harassment and intimidation.
Besides legendary boxer MC Mary Kom and wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, the panel includes archer Dola Banerjee and Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) president and IOA treasurer Sahdev Yadav.
The Congress demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi answer what action he took against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh when issues were allegedly flagged to him by a wrestler in 2021.
The WFI had also applied for visas for nine of its coaches but only six received visas.
Metropolitan Magistrate Yashdeep Chahal directed Punia to appear before the court on September 6, holding he is of the "prima facie" view that all the ingredients of defamation were made out.
At around 11 pm, a scuffle broke out at Jantar Mantar between the protesting wrestlers when they were bringing in folding beds for their night stay and the on-duty police personnel allegedly began enquiring about that.
Yogeshwar questions 'unfair' trial exemption given to 6 wrestlers by IOA ad-hoc panel
Farmer outfits had held a "khap mahapanchayat" in Uttar Pradesh and a series of protests in Punjab and Haryana on Thursday, showing solidarity with the wrestlers who have accused Singh of sexually harassing female grapplers, including a minor.
The WFI ad-hoc panel on Tuesday handed Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat direct entries into the Asian Games.
The Athletes Commission of the IOA has recommended the national Olympic body to put systems in place to deal with issues of the players "with respect and dignity" in the light of the protest by India's top wrestlers.
Bajrang Punia said they were ready to sacrifice medals as delivering justice to the victims would be their biggest medal.
The law officer said let an impression be not created that the FIR has not been registered despite the court asking for it.
'We request the Prime Minister and the Home Minister to get justice delivered as soon as possible because we as well as the nation are at a loss while we keep sitting here for the protest.'
Bajwa, when asked whether Indian grapplers will compete under the United World Wrestling (UWW) flag at the Paris Olympics since the Wrestling Federation of India has been banned by the international body, told PTI that, since the Olympics and Asian Games are multi-discipline events, "they will compete as part of the Indian contingent".
Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Risako Kawai came out in support of the protesting Indian wrestlers.
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.
Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sarita Mor and Sakshi Malik, who staged a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar for three days demanding the sacking of the WFI president, posted identical tweets on the micro-blogging site, expressing their dismay.
The coaches and parents of several established and upcoming wrestlers on Friday demanded withdrawal of exemption granted to Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia.
Services' wrestler Satender Malik launched a physical assault on referee Jagbir Singh after losing the 125kg final during the trials for the Commonwealth Games, prompting the national federation to impose a life ban on him, in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia said the marches to create awareness about their plight would continue with a candle-light march planned at the India Gate on May 23.
Wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, who had sought time till August 10 to prepare for Asian Games and World Championship trials, are set to leave for Kyrgystan and Hungary respectively.
The wrestlers have been sitting on protest since April 23, demanding the arrest of WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh alleging that he has sexually harassed seven female grapplers, including one minor.
'Scuffle' between wrestlers protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, police personnel
Antim Panghal along with several other wrestlers were out on the streets to protest against IOA ad-hoc panel's "unfair" decision to exempt Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat from the Asian Games trials.
Sangeeta Phogat, one of the six wrestlers who protested against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh at Jantar Mantar, on Saturday won a bronze medal in the non-Olympic 59kg category.
After former wrestler Babita Phogat claimed that Radhica Sreeman snatched the final report, the former sports administrator dismissed Babita's claims.
Kadian, who competes in heavy-weight category, reiterated that their fight is against the WFI chief and not against the government.
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