Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Aman Sehrawat, along with former world championship bronze-winner Geeta Phogat, on Monday announced that they would soon launch a Wrestling Champions Super League (WCSL) for the country’s budding grapplers but the national federation has refused to sanction the initiative. Sakshi, along with Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, had spearheaded the wrestlers’ protest against ousted Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was accused of sexual harassment.

Sakshi has, however, distanced herself from the latter two after they took the political plunge by joining Congress ahead of next month’s Haryana assembly elections.

She won the 58kg bronze in 2016 Rio Olympics, and announced the project with Phogat, a 55kg bronze winner in 2012 World Championships through their social media handles. The two, while announcing that they had Paris Games bronze-winner Aman on board, did not provide any details.

Phogat told PTI that she is hopeful of support from the federation and the government.

“Sakshi and I have been planning this League for long. Soon it will take a final shape. We have not yet spoken to the WFI but it would be great if WFI and government support us. It will be the first league that will be operated only by the players,” Phogat said.

“We are doing it for the players, for their benefit. That is the idea and vision, so no one should have any problem with it. It’s a proud moment for us. We won’t stop anyone from getting involved in it, if WFI or government comes on board, even better. We have not yet spoken to them.

“There will be international wrestlers, and coaches involved, so it should help our junior wrestlers. They will get good exposure.” The WFI said it would not give its sanction to the league.

“We won’t approve it. We are reviving our pro wrestling league and hopefully we will have it soon. The wrestlers are free to do their own league, they can promote the game, but we won’t be linked with that,” WFI President Sanjay Singh said.

Asked if there will be prize money involved, and about the format and venue for the event, Phogat said, “You will have to wait a bit to know all this. We will share the details very soon.” Sakshi, who retired from wrestling after Sharan Singh’s close aide Sanjay Singh became WFI head, said she hopes to give back to the sport through this initiative.

“The only way to repay your trust is to dedicate our sporting talent, experience, grit & success to the service of the sport. The 2 of us have therefore come together to create the Wrestling Champions Super League (WCSL),” she posted on X.

“The WCSL, a world class international league, will skill & strengthen our wrestlers to dominate the sport globally by taking on the world’s best in a hyper competitive, expertly supervised environment with best-in-class support systems in place.” She also said that Sehrawat, who won bronze in 57kg in Paris Olympics, also “shares our vision and is joining us on this journey.” “This league is a very commendable initiative which will help Indian wrestling greatly and therefore I want to be a part of it and support it fully,” Aman was uoted as saying by Sakshi.

Daughter of noted wrestling coach Mahavir, Geeta is a cousin of Vinesh, who will be contesting from Julana constituency during the Haryana elections.

Sakshi said the aim of the league is to build a culture of sustained high performance in the sport in the country.

“While WCSL is focused on wrestling, it is inspired also by our overwhelming urge to build a culture of sustained high performance in Indian sport & motivate every Indian to experience the joy of playing.

“Although founded by the 2 of us, the WCSL is a national mission committed to respecting & working in close partnership with all stakeholders. Winning, afterall, is a team sport. Our hearts beat only for India, for Indian wrestling & for Indian sport. Come, let’s build the sporting India of our dreams mil ke, ek saath!”

Celebrated wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Saturday received a grand welcome on her return to India. Hundreds of supporters gathering outside the IGI airport, showing immense solidarity with Vinesh, who was disqualified for being overweight after reaching the 50kg final at the Olympics. After this, a bigger crowd followed her during a roadshow. On her way to Balali from Delhi, Vinesh was felicitated by her supporters and ‘khap’ panchayats in several villages, with the 135km-long journey taking her almost 13 hours on Saturday.

In her native village Balali, Vinesh was even felicitated with a gold medal by community elders.

Watch it here:

Balali promised, Balali delivered!

Vinesh Phogat was presented a gold medal by community elders in her native village. A massive crowd is in attendance despite the felicitation beginning well past midnight.

Follow live updates here https://t.co/1TxFIwzxZw pic.twitter.com/4FE6fezqLF

— Sportstar (@sportstarweb) August 17, 2024

Overwhelmed by the grand reception she received on her arrival from the Paris Olympics, Vinesh said it would be a matter of great pride for her if she could train women wrestlers from her village Balali and they become more successful than her.

Her disqualification had created a furore in India and the wrestling world.

Vinesh’s appeal against her disqualification was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Vinesh, 29, reached her native village around midnight and was accorded a grand welcome. Her neighbours and friends met her with tears and smiles and patted her for the courage she has shown.

Exhausted after a tiring journey that began in Paris, Vinesh addressed the gathering before calling it a day. The two-time World Championships medallist wished that someone from Balali would better her wrestling achievements.

“It would be disappointing if no wrestler emerged from this village. We have paved the way, given hope with our achievements. I request you all to support the women in this village. They need your support, hope and trust if they have to replace us in future,” Vinesh said.

“They can achieve a lot. All they need is your support. I will always be indebted to this nation, this village for giving me so much love and respect.

“Whatever I have learnt in wrestling, I don’t know if that is god-gifted or my hard work but whatever I have I would like to share with my sisters from this village and I wish they achieve greater heights than me.

“I can then say with pride that she is from my village and I have trained her. I want that (my) records are broken by wrestlers from this village. Thank you all for staying up so late in the night for me.”

Vinesh is a two-time CWG gold medallist, Asian Games champion and has won eight Asian Championships medals.

(With PTI Inputs)

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach opened up on Indian grappler Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the final of women’s 50 kg wrestling at the Paris Olympics and said that they will “follow the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) decision”. Vinesh was set to compete against the United States of America’s Sarah Ann Hildebrandt for the gold medal but was disqualified on Wednesday for breaching the weight limit by just 100 grams. After her disqualification, Phogat requested the CAS to award her the silver medal.

The decision on awarding Vinesh Phogat a silver medal following her disqualification from the final of women’s 50 kg wrestling will be taken before the end of the ongoing marquee event, announced the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Friday.

In a statement, CAS said, “An application was filed at the CAS Ad hoc Division at 16:45 CEST on 7 August 2024 by Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat (the Applicant) in relation to the decision taken by United World Wrestling (UWW) to replace her, because of her failed second weigh-in, before the gold medal match of the Women’s Freestyle 50kg competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 that was due to commence at 18:15 CEST the same day (the Challenged Decision).”

“The applicant initially sought a decision from the CAS Ad hoc Division annulling the challenged decision and ordering another weigh-in before the final match as well as a declaration that she be declared eligible and qualified to participate in the final. However, she did not request urgent interim measures. The CAS Ad hoc Division procedure is fast, but it was not possible for a decision on the merits to be issued within an hour, bearing in mind that the Respondent UWW (United World Wrestling) would have had to be heard fast. The procedure is, however, ongoing and the Applicant has confirmed that she seeks the annulment of the challenged decision and that she requests to be awarded a (shared) silver medal,” the statement added.

Speaking at a press conference, Thomas Bach said that one cannot have two silver medals in one category. He added that the regulations of the International Federation have to be followed.

“If you ask generally about having two silver medals in one category then my answer is no. There are the regulations of the International Federation that have to be followed and the International Federation, United World Wrestling was taking this decision…,” Bach said.

The IOC president concluded by saying that they will CAS’s decision in the end.

“Looking at the federation or everybody who has to make such a decision then when and where do you make the cut? Do you say with 100 grams we give it, but with 102 grams we don’t give it anymore?… Now it’s in CAS, we will in the end follow the CAS’ decision. But again, the International Federation, they have to apply and interpret their rules. So this is their responsibility,” he added.

Following her disqualification from the Paris Olympics final, Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling on Thursday.

In an emotional post on X, Phogat expressed her sense of defeat and gratitude, stating, “Maa kushti (wrestling) won against me, I lost. Forgive me, your dream and my courage have been broken. I don’t have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024. I will always be indebted to you all for forgiveness.”

Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday said he would have nominated wrestler Vinesh Phogat to the Rajya Sabha if the Congress had the numbers in the state assembly. The grappler bid adieu to her international wrestling career on Thursday, saying she did not have the strength to continue. Announcing her decision to retire on social media, the 29-year-old — disqualified from the Olympic Games after being found 100 gm overweight ahead of her gold medal bout in the 50 kg category — sought forgiveness from everyone who supported her.

“To motivate her … There are Rajya Sabha polls soon … We don’t have a majority, else I would have nominated her. She has made us all proud,” Bhupinder Singh Hooda told reporters in Delhi.

His son Deepender Hooda, a Lok Sabha MP, said one seat in the Rajya Sabha from Haryana fell vacant after his election to the Lower House.

Vinesh Phogat should be sent to the Upper House, he said.

“She has not lost, she has won. She has won the hearts of people and is an inspiration for the youngsters,” Deepender Hooda said.

“A Rajya Sabha seat from Haryana has fallen vacant as I have come to the Lok Sabha. The election notification has come. What Hooda sahab said today … She should be given a Rajya Sabha seat. I urge all parties of Haryana to consider this,” he added.

Vinesh Phogat’s uncle Mahavir Phogat, meanwhile, said despite setting many records, wrestler Geeta Phogat was not sent to the Rajya Sabha when Bhupinder Singh Hooda was chief minister.

“Today Bhupinder Hooda said that he would have sent Vinesh to the Rajya Sabha if he could. Why did he not send Geeta Phogat when his government was there?” Mahavir Phogat asked.

Geeta Phogat is Mahavir Phogat’s daughter and Vinesh Phogat’s cousin.

Calling it a political stunt, Mahavir Phogat added, “Geeta Phogat set many records. When the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government was in power, he did not even make Geeta a deputy superintendent of police. How can Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda now claim this?”

Vinesh Phogat 50kg Wrestling Semifinal LIVE Streaming Paris Olympics 2024 LIVE Telecast© AFP

File photo of Vinesh Phogat.© X (formerly Twitter)

The Sports Ministry on Thursday approved reigning Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra’s plan to train in Europe for 60 days along with coach Klaus Bartonietz and physio Ishaan Marwaha as preparation for the upcoming Paris Games. The ministry’s Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) also agreed to Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat’s proposal to include strength and conditioning coach Wayne Patrick Lombard for the international training camp in Hungary from June 10 to 21. Chopra, who created history by becoming the first Indian to win a track and field medal at the Olympics in Tokyo three years ago, will be training at different venues in Europe May 29 to July 28.

The financial assistance under TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) will be covering the airfare, accommodation, meals, medical insurance, local transport expenses apart from out-of-pocket allowance as per Sports Authority of India (SAI) norms.

Vinesh, who will be competing in the 50kg division in Paris, had requested for assistance towards Lombard’s airfare, visa fees, board and lodging and local transport in Hungary.

She will also be competing in the United World Wrestling 2nd Ranking Series – Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial from June 6 to 9 in Budapest.

The MOC also cleared the TOPS wrestler’s proposal for support to compete in the Grand Prix of Spain from July 5 to 7 in Madrid. Her support team will include physiotherapist Ashwini Jeevan Patil, sparring partner Arvind and coach Woller Akos.

Long jumper, shooters, shuttlers’ proposal too approved

Long jumper Shaili Singh’s proposal to extend her training camp in Europe to June 23 was also approved by the MOC. Shaili will be training in Lisbon, Paris, Athens and Geneva along with coach Bobby George.

The MOC also cleared the request from shotgun shooters Rajeshwari Kumari and Maheshwari Chauhan to take their personal coaches to the training camp in Italy in June.

Rajeshwari’s personal coach David Kostelecky will accompany the trap shooter to Italy from June 1 to 14. She will be competing in the ISSF World Cup, Lonato during the same period.

Maheshwari’s personal coach Riccardo Fillipelli will be training her from May 31 to June 11. Maheshwari, who became the first Indian skeet shooter to win a quota for Paris Olympics, will also be in the Lonato World Cup from June 12 to 19.

The MOC also okayed a request from 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games Badminton bronze medallist HS Prannoy for financial assistance to engage trainer Rohan George Mathews on a full-time basis from June 20 to July 22 in Hyderabad apart from availing the services of a centre that provides recovery products including Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy and Red Light therapy.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves exposing the body to 100 percent oxygen at a pressure that is greater than normal. Among other things, it hastens wound healing.

Red light therapy is a therapeutic technique that uses low level wavelengths of red light to help treat various skin conditions.

Maisnam Meiraba and Anupama Upadhyay’s proposal for support to compete in international tournaments has secured the approval.

Recurve archer Atanu Das’s request for monetary support towards two-month training at Army Sports Institute, Pune, from June 1 to August 5 along with coach Mim Gurung was also cleared.

The request of sailor Vishnu Sarvanan to engage physio Sarath Lal for 40 days during his training camp in Marseille and Para powerlifter Ashok’s request to secure a wheelchair also got a green signal from the MOC.