UWW Financial News

Vinesh Phogat's fate who was disqualified from the Paris 2024 Olympics gold medal match in the 50kg freestyle wrestling category is now in the hands of Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) who will deliver its verdict on August 13. While the hearings are completed and only the verdict is left, there might be a crucial 'loophole' in the United World Wrestling (UWW) rulebook that could potentially benefit Phogat, according to media reports. According to current regulations, Phogat’s disqualification was due to her failing the weigh-in by a mere 100 grams. UWW rules state that no exceptions can be made for such violations, which seemingly rules out the possibility of awarding Phogat a silver medal. However, an intriguing loophole in the rulebook might offer Phogat a chance.

Indian wrestling team's participation at the World Championships after all the 12 selected athletes assembled outside the residence of Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and sought his intervention, a day after the WFI withdrew the nation's entries from the prestigious tournament. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) was on Thursday forced to pull all three Indian teams out of the championships after wrestler Satyawart Kadian, husband of Sakshi Malik, approached the court against the federation's decision to conduct trials for the U23 and senior Worlds. Kadian contended that sice WFI is suspended, it was committing a contempt of court by taking decisions. The WFI remains suspended by the ministry and the IOA has refused to re-introduce the ad-hoc panel, leaving the sport and the future of the wrestlers in limbo. The world governing body UWW has, though, lifted suspension of the WFI in February this year.

Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Wednesday withdrew the Indian team from the World Championship, conveying to world governing body, UWW, that the sports ministry is interfering with its autonomy. The senior World Championship in 12 non-Olympic categories is scheduled to be held in Tirana, Albania from October 28. The WFI had recently announced selection trials for the U23 and World Championship, which was challenged as contempt of court by the protesting wrestlers who questioned the legality of the selection by the suspended federation. WFI withdrew the selection trials notice and the court, on October 4, decided not to proceed with the contempt petition.

Vinesh Phogat's appeal to award her a joint silver medal. «The ad hoc division of CAS has extended time till 6:00 p.m. on August 11, 2024, for the Sole Arbitrator Hon. Dr Annabelle Bennett in the Vinesh Phogat vs. United World Wrestling & the International Olympic Committee to issue a decision. The reasoned order will be issued at a later date,» said IOA in a statement. Phogat had filed an appeal on August 7 challenging the Olympics disqualification she faced for weighing more than 50 Kg by 100 grams, leading to the Olympics committee revoking her silver medal win.

National Anti-Doping Agency has once again suspended Olympic Medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia for an anti-doping rule violation. Earlier this month, the National Anti-Doping Agency's Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) revoked the provisional suspension imposed on Bajrang Punia till NADA issues a Notice of Charge to the wrestler, who had refused to provide his sample for dope test after the selection trials in March. NADA had suspended Tokyo Games bronze medallist Bajrang on April 23 and subsequently the world governing body UWW also took similar action. The trials to pick the men's national team for the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Bishkek were held in Sonepat on March 10 and Bajrang had walked off the venue without providing his urine sample after losing a bout.

Wrestling Federation of India's Athletes' Commission here on Wednesday, completing a process that was mandated by the sport's world governing body. A total of eight candidates were in fray for the seven positions and after polling, conducted on ballot paper, seven members got elected. They then chose Narsingh as chairman of the commission. Ahead of the 2016 Olympics, the Games-bound Narsingh had grabbed headlines when two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, who missed the qualification event due to an injury, requested for a trial bout against him. Sushil moved the Delhi High Court and only after his appeal was rejected, it was confirmed that Narsingh would go to Rio Olympics.

Delhi High Court to handle the day-to-day activities of the wrestling federation was Monday resolved by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) saying "there is no further need" of the panel following the withdrawal of the suspension on the WFI by the United World Wrestling (UWW), which has now got complete administrative control of wrestling in the country. The IOA said in an office order that, "The decision to dissolve the Adhoc Committee comes in light of the lifting of the ban on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) by the United World Wrestling (UWW) and the successful completion of Selection Trials by the Adhoc Committee appointed by the IOA as per the directives of the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi." "Consequent upon the aforementioned developments, there is no further need for running the activities of the WFI through an ad-hoc committee," the IOA said.

Vinesh Phogat on Monday made the cut for Asian Olympic Qualifiers in the 50kg category after being allowed to fight in an unprecedented two weight divisions during the trials where she held up proceedings for almost three hours. Phogat, who has been at the forefront of an emotionally-charged protest against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh after accusing him of sexual harassment, defeated Shivani 11-6 to book a place in the Qualifiers to be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan from April 19 to 21. The 29-year-old is a two-time Olympian and an Asian and Commonwealth Games gold-medallist.

Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia on Wednesday alleged that national federation chief Sanjay Singh used devious means to get the suspension on WFI lifted by United World Wrestling (UWW) and threatened to restart their agitation against the body. The UWW on Tuesday lifted the provisional suspension on India but directed the national federation to provide written guarantees that there would be no discriminatory action against the protesting trio of Punia, Malik and Vinesh Phogat. The suspension was imposed by UWW in August last year after the WFI failed to hold elections in time. Punia, Malik and Phogat have been protesting for more than a year, demanding the arrest of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for allegedly sexually harassing women grapplers.