Vinesh Phogat slams decision to lift ban on WFI, calls it a handout to ‘goons and criminals’
Chandigarh: Olympian wrestler and Congress MLA from Haryana, Vinesh Phogat, has criticised the Centre’s decision to lift the suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The ban was imposed following sexual harassment allegations against former WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports had suspended the Sanjay Singh-led WFI days after its election due to its announcement of U15 and U20 nationals. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) was directed to oversee the federation’s operations temporarily. However, the ministry lifted the suspension on Monday following an order by the Delhi High Court.
Phogat condemned the move, alleging that sports federations were being handed over to individuals with criminal backgrounds. "I want the media to raise this issue more strongly. This is completely wrong. In a country where sports are in such a terrible state, federations are being handed over to goons and criminals," she told IANS.
Phogat, along with fellow wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, has been at the forefront of protests against the WFI, accusing Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment. She also criticised the current WFI president, Sanjay Singh, for his association with Brij Bhushan.
Phogat asserted that their fight against WFI’s leadership would continue. "These people openly declare their dominance in front of the entire nation. But we will not back down from this fight. Our struggle has always been for truth and honesty, and we will continue on this path," she said.
Meanwhile, Union Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya defended the decision, stating that the ministry had lifted the ban as per the High Court’s order. "This allows our wrestlers to participate in the Asian and World Championships while ensuring justice for their future," he said.
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Delhi's air quality in 'very poor' category at 386, 'severe' at 16 stations
New Delhi (PTI): The air quality in the national capital was recorded in the "very poor" category on Sunday morning, with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 386, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Data from the CPCB's Sameer app revealed that 16 monitoring stations in the city reported air quality in the "severe" category, while the remaining stations recorded "very poor" levels.
As per CPCB standards, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered "good", 51 to 100 "satisfactory", 101 to 200 "moderate", 201 to 300 "poor", 301 to 400 "very poor", and 401 to 500 "severe".
The minimum temperature settled at 9.4 degrees Celsius, which is 1.3 degrees above the season's average, while the humidity was recorded at 91 per cent at 8:30 am, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 17 degrees Celsius, with the IMD forecasting a yellow alert for the city due to moderate fog.
