#Bajrang Punia Trial

[daily-quiz-join]

पहलवान बजरंग पूनिया फिर हुए सस्पेंड, 11 जुलाई तक देना होगा जवाब

प्रतिरूप फोटो Social Media रविवार को राष्ट्रीय डोपिंग निरोधक एजेंसी (नाडा) ने बजरंग पूनिया को दूसरी बार निलंबित कर दिया। इससे तीन सप्ताह पहले एडीडीपी ने इस आधार पर उनका निलंबन रद्द किया था कि नाडा ने पहलवान को आरोपों के संदर्भ में नोटिस जारी नहीं किया था। नाडा ने 23 अप्रैल को तोक्यो ओलंपिक के कांस्य पदक विजेता पूनिया को निलंबित कर दिया था। राष्ट्रीय डोपिंग निरोधक एजेंसी (नाडा) ने रविवार को…

[grumpy-gran]

Y’all need to hear about Vinesh Phogat

She’s legendary in more ways than one!

Yesterday , she became the first Indian woman wrestler to qualify for Olympic finals. she won the women's 50kg freestyle wrestling event at the Paris Olympics against Japanese Yui Susaki, who is a legend in the sport herself, and the reigning Olympic champion.

This victory is very personal for a lot of women in India.

Vinesh isn’t just a legendary sportsperson, she’s also an outstanding Indian citizen who led protests against the corrupt chief of Wrestling Federation of India, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

He stood accused of sexual misconduct and intimidation of wrestlers. Vinesh, she along with fellow wrestlers led protests, seeking his removal as president, from Jan till at least Jun 2023.

Some wrestlers (including a minor if I’m not wrong) eventually filed a case against him, but not before suffering incredibly dehumanising treatment from state institutions and bad faith commentators.

The wrestlers were manhandled and (imo wrongfully) arrested by the Indian police for holding a peaceful protest march. The odds were massively stacked against them in an obviously corrupt system.

Photo - Arun Thakur/AFP

“We fear for our lives. If he [Singh] is not sacked, then the careers of all the young wrestlers who joined the dharna [protest] will be over,” the wrestlers once wrote in a letter to the Indian Olympic Association.

Phogat also said they were receiving death threats.

It was only after the matter garnered national interest that the ruling party in India, of which Singh was an MP, reluctantly distanced themselves publicly from Singh.

Meanwhile, the wrestlers were relentlessly slandered on social/ legacy media by politically extremist commentators. Today a lot of those bad faith actors are hailing her victory as the country’s victory. Laughable, really.

After her win against Susaki, one of her fellow wrestlers and protesters, Bajrang Punia wrote on X,

“This girl was kicked and crushed in her own country.

This girl was dragged on the streets in her country

This girl is going to conquer the world but she lost to the system in this country.”

[translated from Hindi]

Singh, who was presiding for 12 years, was eventually removed from his position but afaik, he has not yet been charged for any crimes, trial is ongoing, I’m not up to date on that.

But there were credible reports citing ongoing intimidation against the wrestlers to dissuade them from litigating against Singh. I think one of the wrestlers, presumably the minor, has already been intimidated into withdrawing their case.

I don’t want to cite statistics on how hard it is for victims of SA to find justice through due process. You can look it up, it’s neigh impossible everywhere, but especially in India. The strength of character it takes to fight against all odds, against the very system that is meant to support you and be the best version of yourself, must be incredible.

She’s a story of hope for the rest of us.

So proud of her. So thankful for her!

[akilsposts]

Greater than a Medal...

The story of Vinesh Phogat is one of enduring resilience and an athlete's determination to overcome all the odds stacked against her. From being one of the faces of the brave protest against the sexual harassment faced by women wrestlers (including minors) at the hands of the then head of the Wrestling Federation of India and BJP MP, Brij Bhushan Charan Singh, to becoming an unceasing source of inspiration for innumerable people in this country, Vinesh Phogat has become a shining light in not just the sporting history of India but also among those fighting for a safe and better society.

The story is not unfamiliar to the world because the latest chapter of it unfolded at the Olympic Games which was recently held in Paris. The official version is very simple: Having fought through a draw that needed her to beat the defending Olympic Champion, the reigning European Champion, the reigning Pan American champion in each of her rounds, Vinesh had entered the final and was scheduled to face Sarah Hildebrandt of the USA before she was disqualified on the morning of the bout for being 100g above the permissible weight of 50 kg. Vinesh Phogat's disqualification meant that she would end up receiving no medals. However, it is the role of different sporting and political authorities of our country, and all the events that took place leading to the Olympic final that needs our examination as a concerned society.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA), as is the case with any other sports-body in India, has long been a rubber-stamp that is invariably controlled by the ruling dispensations. The role of this body in this whole affair is suspect. That the alacrity with which it announced the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the competition was not shown in making an appeal against the decision has not gone unnoticed. Its President, P.T. Usha, has been quick to absolve her organisation from all responsibility in the matter and has covertly and overtly placed the blame on the shoulders of the athlete. The Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, addressing the issue in the Parliament, stooped so low as to declaim about the money the government had spent on Vinesh Phogat's training. At this point, it should not be forgotten that it was this same ministry that had delayed in providing accreditation for Phogat's support staff including her coaches and physiotherapists. The snide and even belittling remarks following the disqualification and the barely concealed glee of many elected representatives of the ruling party point to the deep resentment that they had harboured towards Vinesh. However, the most noticeable was the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi following each of Phogat's victorious bouts leading to the final. It was very uncharacteristic because he has always been quick to bask in the reflected glory of the achievements of our sportspersons. It is unsurprising that his social media post after the disqualification was equated to the shedding of crocodile tears by the discerning public.

Vinesh Phogat's achievement can only be understood in its true proportions if we take into account the reason for her being above the permissible weight by a mere 100 grams. This is also the reason why she has been a thorn in the flesh of the authorities in our country. Phogat is an athlete whose normal weight is 55-56 kg. She usually competes in the 53kg weight category. However, she had to forgo all rigorous training during the phase of protest where she and fellow wrestlers and Olympic medalists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia protested for many days and nights on the streets of Delhi at Jantar Mantar demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan. Not only was she unable to train, she also had to undergo surgery to correct a lingering medical issue. In the meanwhile, the qualifying spot in her preferred 53 kg category was already taken by another wrestler. Fearing that the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) would not allow her trials in the 53 kg category as retribution for her role in the protests, she appeared for trials in both the 53 kg and also the 50 kg. Subsequently, she qualified for the Olympics in the 50kg category. In a sport as gruelling as wrestling it is normal for athletes to gain and lose weight between matches. However, the very fact that Vinesh had to lose 5-6 kg just to compete in the Olympics, that too in a category that is not her preferred one speaks volumes about her determination and character. But, the very fact that she was forced to do all these is the result of the constant obstacles that were erected before her by the nefarious authorities, particularly the WFI which continues to be ruled by Brij Bhushan in all but name.

The story of Vinesh Phogat is compelling. She may have been disqualified for reasons beyond her control, and ones which are suspicious to say the least but she has, undoubtedly, won her greatest battle. She had famously proclaimed that she would happily sacrifice her career if it meant that countless other girls would get an opportunity for a safe working environment. She stuck steadfastly to the same goal going into this Olympics. She knew that it would be her last Olympics and that her career would be over but she wanted to fight for the women who would follow in her path. She was actutely aware that a victory at the Olympics, in front of the watching world would be the greatest slap in the face of a system that not only refuses to come to their aid but obstinately shields the criminals who wronged them. Needless to say, the authorities were also well aware of this. Yet, Vinesh's determination has inspired countless who celebrated each of her victories and wanted her to bring home the much coveted gold. The outrage and disappointment at her disqualification soon turned into a universal acknowledgement of the brave fight put up by this undaunted wrestler. If the rousing and heartwarming reception that she received on her return to India is any indication, Vinesh Phogat's and her fellow wrestlers fight has surely stirred the conscience of this country. This is important for a society that continues to stifle women's participation in not just sports, but all public activities. Recent events in our country are evidence that women remain unsafe in the present social atmosphere. It will be through unrelenting protests and collective activities like sports that we will achieve true democratization. Vinesh Phogat's role will forever be etched into the history of this struggle, for in a world where sportspersons and other famous personalities either openly endorse those in power or remain tight lipped to protect their own personal interests, she has fought the hard battle for a cause greater than an Olympic medal.

[a2zsportsnews]

Bajrang Punia Refuses To Appear In WFI Selection Trials, Urges Court To Put Stay On Competition

Rejecting the Wrestling Federation of India’s invitation to compete in the upcoming national trials, ace Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia has moved an urgent joint petition in the Delhi High Court, seeking a stay on the selection competition being organised by the WFI in New Delhi on March 10-11. It has been learnt from reliable sources that Bajrang, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and her husband…

[tophindinews]

Bajrang Punia, Olympics Trials: ओलंपिक टिकट गंवाकर बौखलाए बजरंग... गुस्से में मैदान और आखिरी मैच भी छोड़ा - Aaj Tak

http://dlvr.it/T3tJX7

[blogynews]

"Bajrang Punia's Shocking Exit: The Untold Story Behind His Medal-less Journey at Asian Games 2023 - Aman's Unexpected Triumph Shrouded in Bronze"

Indian Wrestler Bajrang Punia Exits Asian Games Without a Medal Bajrang Punia, a prominent Indian wrestler, made an unfortunate exit from the Asian Games in Hangzhou without securing a medal. Despite three other Indian wrestlers, including Aman Sehrawat, winning bronze medals on Friday, Punia faced embarrassing defeats. Punia, who had bypassed the selection trials to enter the Games, appeared…

[blogynewz]

"Bajrang Punia's Shocking Exit: The Untold Story Behind His Medal-less Journey at Asian Games 2023 - Aman's Unexpected Triumph Shrouded in Bronze"

Indian Wrestler Bajrang Punia Exits Asian Games Without a Medal Bajrang Punia, a prominent Indian wrestler, made an unfortunate exit from the Asian Games in Hangzhou without securing a medal. Despite three other Indian wrestlers, including Aman Sehrawat, winning bronze medals on Friday, Punia faced embarrassing defeats. Punia, who had bypassed the selection trials to enter the Games, appeared…

[blogynewsz]

"Bajrang Punia's Shocking Exit: The Untold Story Behind His Medal-less Journey at Asian Games 2023 - Aman's Unexpected Triumph Shrouded in Bronze"

Indian Wrestler Bajrang Punia Exits Asian Games Without a Medal Bajrang Punia, a prominent Indian wrestler, made an unfortunate exit from the Asian Games in Hangzhou without securing a medal. Despite three other Indian wrestlers, including Aman Sehrawat, winning bronze medals on Friday, Punia faced embarrassing defeats. Punia, who had bypassed the selection trials to enter the Games, appeared…

[gobeautifulnerdbouquetlove]

Delhi high court backs exemption from Asiad trials for Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia - IndiaTimes

http://dlvr.it/SsbFln

[shahananasrin-blog]

[ad_1] NEW DELHI: Courts can’t sit in appeal over decision taken by wrestling experts to give direct entry to top wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat for Asian Games, more so when there is a greater risk of injury being caused during trials, the Delhi high court said Saturday.Refusing to interfere with the exemption granted to top Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia from Asian Games trials, Justice Subramonium Prasad dismissed the petition by Under-20 World Champion Antim Panghal and Under-23 Asian Champion Sujeet Kalkal against the direct entry allowed to the duo to participate in the tournament.“The unanimous decision taken by the committee on 12.07.2023 not to expose respondents, who have been termed as elite athletes, to injuries during trials cannot be said to be arbitrary or perverse. It is nobody’s case that (Punia and Phogat) are not well known in their respective categories. In fact, both the athletes are in the World Top 10 rankings and, therefore, the categorisation of these athletes as elite athletes also cannot be said to be perverse or arbitrary,” the HC observed. The HC reiterated that court’s can’t “substitute their opinions to the opinions arrived at by the experts unless the court is satisfied that the decision taken by the experts is perverse or illegal. The function of the Court is only to see that the decision has been arrived at in a good faith and the experts have acted reasonably. It is not the function of the courts to sit in judgment over the decision arrived at by the experts”.Justice Prasad highlighted that the decision of the ad-hoc committee, which comprises experts in the field of wrestling, to exempt the elite athletes from selection trials is not just to prevent them from suffering any injury in the selection process but also due to their past performances in the world events.!(function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) function loadFBEvents(isFBCampaignActive) if (!isFBCampaignActive) return; (function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) if (f.fbq) return; n = f.fbq = function() n.callMethod ? n.callMethod(...arguments) : n.queue.push(arguments); ; if (!f._fbq) f._fbq = n; n.push = n; n.loaded = !0; n.version = '2.0'; n.queue = []; t = b.createElement(e); t.async = !0; t.defer = !0; t.src = v; s = b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t, s); )(f, b, e, ' n, t, s); fbq('init', '593671331875494'); fbq('track', 'PageView'); ; function loadGtagEvents(isGoogleCampaignActive) if (!isGoogleCampaignActive) return; var id = document.getElementById('toi-plus-google-campaign'); if (id) return; (function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) t = b.createElement(e); t.async = !0; t.defer = !0; t.src = v; t.id = 'toi-plus-google-campaign'; s = b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t, s); )(f, b, e, ' n, t, s); ; window.TimesApps = window.TimesApps )( window, document, 'script', ); [ad_2]

[newswatchindia]

Relief for Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, will get direct entry in Asian Games without trial

[12blogmk]

Ready to quit wrestling if proved we asked for exemption: Bajrang Punia | More sports News

NEW DELHI: The six protesting wrestlers, who received exemption from Asian Games trials, on Saturday, denied demanding such a favour and said they will quit the sport if such allegations are proved.After IOA ad-hoc panel’s decision of a one-bout trial, the protesting wrestlers have been facing opposition from fellow wrestlers over the last couple of days as London Olympic bronze medallist…

[all-about-news24x7]

Yogeshwar Dutt, coaches question ‘unfair’ trial exemption given to 6 wrestlers involved in protest against Brij Bhushan

On June 23, Olympic medallist wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, several coaches and parents of established and upcoming wrestlers questioned the exemption granted to six wrestlers – Sakshi Malik, her husband Satyawart Kadian, Bajrang Punia, his wife Sangeeta Phogat, Vinesh Phogat and Jitendra Kinha – from the Asian Games and World Championship trials by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). Following the…

[citizenrecord]

‘One-bout selection for Bajrang, Vinesh unfair’

Antim and Sujeet’s coaches respect elite wrestlers but feel two-stage selection trials do not provide a level playing field; one of them plans to meet IOA’s ad-hoc panel to lodge their protest

CHENNAI: In an extraordinary move, wrestlers, their parents and coaches have come out in the open and spoken up against the alleged biases in the selection trials being held to pick up the national team for reputed tournaments. The two-stage Asian Games selection trials proposed by the ad-hoc committee to accommodate protesting wrestlers seem to have infuriated others as they plan to protest against the move by approaching the panel and registering their complaints. They felt this would put them under more pressure to perform. Moreover, the coaches felt the wrestlers will have to wait till August to know whether they would be part of the India team.

As reported by this daily a few days ago, the ad-hoc committee has decided to give six wrestlers — Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sangeeta Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Satyawart Kadian and Jitender Kinha — a chance to qualify for Asian Games as well as World Championships by competing in just one bout against the winners of the selection trials in their respective weight categories.

As per the proposal, others have to win trials in their respective weight categories before taking on these wrestlers, who had protested against the sidelined Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, in August.

“This is unfair. The same was the case in the past and now the panel, which was formed with the objective to remove such flaws, is following the same practice,” Vikas Bhardwaj, Antim Panghal’s childhood coach from Baba Lal Das Kushti Academy, Hisar, told this daily. Antim, India’s first-ever U-20 world champion, competes in 53kg, the weight category two-time Olympian Vinesh has made her own with her consistent show over the years.

And her coach is not the only one to raise his voice against the trials that may give undue advantage to the elite wrestlers. Dayanand Kalkar, father and coach of Sujeet, who is the 2022 national champion in 65kg, is also not pleased with the decision. It’s the same weight category wherein Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist and multiple medallist at the Worlds Bajrang competes. “If the ad-hoc panel wants to continue the malpractice then give Sujeet a bye as well since he is also the reigning national champion in 65kg,” Dayanand told this daily. Sujeet last year won U-20 Worlds bronze apart from winning gold in the Tunisia Ranking Series.

Apart from being the closest rivals of Vinesh and Bajrang in the country, both Antim and Sujeet are termed as India’s future. They had already faced off against the experienced duo in the past with Antim losing to Vinesh twice including the 2022 Commonwealth Games selection trials. Sujeet had competed against Bajrang once in the CWG trials closely losing the bout.

“During the CWG trials as well Bajrang was given direct entry into the semifinals. Sujeet had to win three bouts before competing against a relatively fresh Bajrang. We are not afraid and ready to take on Bajrang once again but by doing this (one bout for selection) the panel is not setting the right precedent. We will speak to the panel and lodge a complaint if needed,” added Dayanand.

Antim’s coach Vikas explained how such privileges given to senior wrestlers can affect upcoming grapplers both physically and mentally. “Antim will first have to overcome challenges from other wrestlers in the first trials. She will have to maintain her weight before the first trials. If she wins there, she has to do the same before the trials against Vinesh later. It can affect her physically as there wouldn’t be a big gap between the two trials. Besides, even if she wins the first trial, she will be under tremendous pressure as she knows she has to win another trial more than a month later against two-time Worlds medallist Vinesh.”

Antim and Sujeet have been training at their respective centres despite the ongoing turmoil in Indian wrestling ever since the protest began against Brij Bhushan in January. Given the hard work they have been putting in for months now, the coaches’ only demand is a level playing field. “Let the best wrestler win but for that to happen, you need to be fair to everyone irrespective of reputation and past laurels,” the coaches signed off.