Vinesh Phogat sends apology to WFI, may still not be allowed to compete at Worlds
New Delhi, Aug 14: Suspended wrestler Vinesh Phogat has sent her apology to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), which had barred her from competitions on grounds of indiscipline during the Tokyo Olympics but the parent body may still not allow her to compete in the upcoming World Championship.
Vinesh, who exited from the Tokyo Games following her shock quarterfinal defeat, was suspended by the WFI for not staying and training with her Indian teammates and for sporting the name of her personal sponsor on her singlet instead of the official sponsor of the Indian contingent.
A day after her suspension, Vinesh had revealed her physical and mental struggle during the Games where she did not have the services of her personal physio.
The 26-year-old on Friday replied to the notice sent to her by the WFI.
"WFI has received the reply and Vinesh has apologised," a source, aware of the developments, told PTI.
"But it is very much possible that despite apology, she may not still be allowed to travel to the World Championship," the sources added.
The WFI is not pleased with the way private sports NGOs like OGQ and JSW, who sponsor many Indian athletes, are handling the Indian wrestlers as it feels they are "spoiling" them.
The WFI has said that it will not allow them to interfere in the affairs of the senior wrestlers in future.
Vinesh is supported by OGQ while Bajrang Punia gets support from JSW.
It has also been learnt that Sonam Malik, who has apologised for her misconduct, may also be barred from appearing in the trials for the World Championship, scheduled to be held in Norway from October 2-10.
The WFI had accused Sonam (62kg) of misconduct as she sought help from SAI officials for procuring her passport from the WFI office before leaving for Tokyo.
The trials are expected to be held in the last week of this month.
The source also added that Divya Kakran, who was also served a notice for misconduct three months back, may also be barred from appearing in the trials. She competes in the 68kg category.
The WFI will decide on the fate of the three wrestlers either on Monday or Tuesday.
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14 arrested in JNU protest case
New Delhi (PTI): Fourteen protesters were arrested in connection with a demonstration at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) here on Thursday evening, police said.
Those held JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) president Aditi Mishra, vice president Gopika Babu, former president Nitish Kumar, and joint secretary Danish Ali, among others, they said.
Police said an FIR has been registered under sections 132/3(5) (assault or criminal force), 221 (obstructing public servant) and 121(1) (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Vasant Kunj North Police Station.
ALSO READ: Police, students injured in clash during JNUSU protest march, over 50 detained
The arrests followed an attempted march by JNUSU members, who had gathered at Sabarmati T-Point on the campus and sought to move towards the education ministry as part of ongoing protests over JNU Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit's recent remarks on a podcast over the implementation of UGC norms, rustication of JNUSU office bearers, and the proposed Rohith Act.
Police personnel, however, stopped the protesters at the heavily barricaded university gates, leading to a scuffle.
A total of 51 protesters, including Mishra and Kumar, were detained on Thursday evening, with Delhi Police claiming that the students resorted to physical assault, injuring several of its personnel, during the confrontation.
In a statement, the students' union called for a complete university strike and reiterated allegations of police excess during the march.
It claimed that 13 students, including three office-bearers, were detained and several students were "brutally attacked and injured", while a portrait of B. R. Ambedkar was damaged during the police action.
Among its demands, the JNUSU has sought the immediate and unconditional release of all, resignation of the vice-chancellor, action against police personnel over the alleged desecration of Ambedkar's portrait, and withdrawal of proctorial actions and FIRs against student activists.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) had earlier condemned the police action.
