Indian wrestlers suspend protest after promise of swift probe of federation chief

Indian wrestlers suspend protest after promise of swift probe of federation chief
In this April 23 file photo Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik address a news conference in a sit-in protest demanding arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, who they accuse of sexually harassing female players. (File/ Reuters)
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Updated 08 June 2023
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Indian wrestlers suspend protest after promise of swift probe of federation chief

Indian wrestlers suspend protest after promise of swift probe of federation chief
  • The wrestlers have been camping in New Delhi for months since April seeking the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh
  • Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia was part of the wrestling delegation that met Sports Minister Anurag Thakur at his residence

NEW DELHI: India’s top wrestlers said they had decided to suspend protests on Wednesday after the country’s sports minister promised a swift probe of their federation chief who they accused six months ago of sexually harassing female athletes.

The wrestlers have been camping in New Delhi for months since April seeking the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has denied the allegations.

Last month, the protest site was cleared and several wrestlers were briefly detained as they kept demanding action against Singh, who is also a powerful member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a federal lawmaker.

Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia was part of the wrestling delegation that met Sports Minister Anurag Thakur at his residence on Wednesday, a meeting that lasted nearly six hours.

“The government has assured that they would complete the police investigations against Singh by June 15 so we have suspended the protest till then,” said Punia, who won the men’s 65 kg freestyle bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.

Singh, a six-time member of parliament, has been accused of sexually assaulting seven female athletes, including a minor.

His lawyer rejected all the allegations levelled by the wrestlers and said Singh was cooperating with the police in the probe.

Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik, Asian Games champion Vinesh Phogat and Punia had to be talked out of plans to dump their medals in a river in protest on May 30.

“Those moments when we were dragged and roughed up by the police were deeply humiliating for all the wrestlers as all we want is justice for seven female victims of sexual abuse,” Punia said.

The rumbling protest and police action against the top athletes have shone a spotlight on the government’s delay in dealing with a criminal complaint against a member of the ruling BJP.

Sports Minister Thakur, who is also a member of the ruling BJP, said the police would file a chargesheet by June 15, and that the wrestlers had assured him they would refrain from any demonstration until then.

“They have asked us to complete the investigation and file the chargesheet by June 15, we will do that,” the minister told reporters.

The Sport and Rights Alliance, a global coalition of non-governmental organizations that promotes human rights in sport, urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ensure a transparent, independent and impartial investigation into the allegations.

“It takes a lot of courage to break the silence and disclose a case of sexual abuse,” network coordinator Joanna Maranhao said.

“We stand with the athletes and encourage the IOC to protect them, especially in this deeply power-imbalanced situation. Their wellbeing should be the top priority.”

United World Wrestling (UWW), the sport’s international governing body, issued a statement last week condemning the brief detention of the wrestlers and criticizing the “lack of results” in the investigations against Singh.

It has also threatened to suspend WFI if it fails to hold a fresh election this month.


Pochettino urges struggling Chelsea players to ‘believe’

Pochettino urges struggling Chelsea players to ‘believe’
Updated 26 September 2023
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Pochettino urges struggling Chelsea players to ‘believe’

Pochettino urges struggling Chelsea players to ‘believe’
  • The Blues, European champions just two years ago, are a lowly 14th in the Premier League table
  • But new manager Pochettino, speaking on the eve of their League Cup third-round match against Brighton, struck a positive note, saying his team were still a work in progress

LONDON: Mauricio Pochettino has urged his struggling Chelsea team to keep believing in themselves but admitted they had to “fix” their crippling goalscoring problem.
The Blues, European champions just two years ago, are a lowly 14th in the Premier League table, just four points above the relegation zone, after one win in their first six matches.
Big-spending Chelsea have mustered just five goals in the league — and three of those came in the 3-0 win against newly-promoted Luton.
But new manager Pochettino, speaking on the eve of their League Cup third-round match against Brighton, struck a positive note, saying his team were still a work in progress.
“(It is) a very short time that we are together,” said the Argentine. “Realistically, we only started after the transfer window closed. Before, it was a little bit of an unstable situation.”
He said injury-hit Chelsea were full of ideas and dominating games but struggling to find the net — Raheem Sterling is the top-scorer with just two goals.
“Every single football person in this country sees Chelsea deserve more but we have missed (scoring) goals, the most important thing in football — we cannot forget that,” said the former Tottenham boss.
“We need to get criticized, of course, because we are not winning games but we need to keep being strong in the belief.
“The team is very well-organized, the effort is massive. You can see against Aston Villa (a match Chelsea lost 1-0) how the players fight with 10 men.”
He added: “We are playing well, it’s only we are not clinical in front of the goal. That is what we need to fix and try to give more confidence to our offensive players.”


DP World Tour prepares to celebrate 15th anniversary in Dubai

DP World Tour prepares to celebrate 15th anniversary in Dubai
Updated 26 September 2023
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DP World Tour prepares to celebrate 15th anniversary in Dubai

DP World Tour prepares to celebrate 15th anniversary in Dubai
  • 2023 edition of the season-ending event will bring 50 of the world’s top golf stars to Dubai

DUBAI: The DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, is set to return for its 15th edition in just 50 days with a blend of world-class golfing action, entertainment and fan experiences.

Following record weekend crowds last year and a sold-out event, the championship will take place at Jumeirah Golf Estates, as the grand finale of the prestigious Rolex Series.

From Nov. 16-19, the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates will witness the world’s top 50 players on the “DP World Tour Race to Dubai” Rankings battling for the coveted title of Race to Dubai champion.

The DP World Tour Championship Fan Village will offer an array of experiences including family-friendly activities, a special Ladies Day celebrating women’s golf, and daily music performances from local UAE based artists including Conleth McGeary, Lexie, Faux-asis and Garry Greig.

For those looking to improve their golf game, the “Golf for All” program will offer attendees lessons on the driving range, along with an opportunity to put skills to the test through a “long putt” challenge sponsored by DP World.

Tom Phillips, the DP World Tour’s Head of Middle East, said: “We’re thrilled to be celebrating the 15th edition of the DP World Tour Championship. This Rolex Series is not only a highlight on the global golfing calendar but has also firmly established itself on Dubai’s vibrant social calendar. It’s a testament to our commitment to delivering a world-class sporting and lifestyle experience that resonates with residents and visitors alike, and we can’t wait to share this milestone with everyone.”


Al-Nassr cruise, Al-Hilal stumble into King’s Cup round of 16

Al-Nassr cruise, Al-Hilal stumble into King’s Cup round of 16
Updated 26 September 2023
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Al-Nassr cruise, Al-Hilal stumble into King’s Cup round of 16

Al-Nassr cruise, Al-Hilal stumble into King’s Cup round of 16
  • Without Cristiano Ronaldo, Al-Nassr comprehensively overcome Ohod 5-1

Riyadh rivals Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal safely booked their spots in the round of 16 of the King’s Cup after away victories over lower-tier opposition on Monday night.

But while Al-Nassr cruised to a comfortable 5-1 win over Ohod, Al-Hilal struggled to overcome Al-Jabalain 1-0.

Al-Nassr, playing without the rested Cristiano Ronaldo, took the lead on 15 minutes through a penalty by Sadio Mane, but the home team responded with a fine chipped equalizer from Konrad Michalak deep into first-half stoppage time.

Second-half strikes from Seko Fofana (62 minutes), Talisca (75), Ayman Yahya (81) and Sami Al-Najei (86) saw the Yellows safely through to the next round.

In contrast, Al-Hilal could only manage a solitary goal from Reuben Neves on 64 minutes as they labored to beat stubborn first-division outfit Al-Jabalain.

Elsewhere on Monday night, there was shock as Saudi Pro League team Al-Raed were beaten by first-division Al-Najmah 2-1, while Damac progressed after a 2-1 victory over Al-Qaisumah.


Padel to debut at Emirates Dubai 7s with new tournament Rebound

Padel to debut at Emirates Dubai 7s with new tournament Rebound
Updated 26 September 2023
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Padel to debut at Emirates Dubai 7s with new tournament Rebound

Padel to debut at Emirates Dubai 7s with new tournament Rebound
  • Organizers confirm contest to be played across 5 custom-designed courts Dec. 1-3

DUBAI: Emirates Dubai 7s is to launch Rebound, its first padel tournament, further expanding the lineup of its sporting events for this year’s edition.

Set to take place from Dec. 1 to 3, the tournament welcomes players of all abilities, and will see them compete across five custom-designed padel courts at The Sevens Stadium.

Players can select from eight categories namely Team Open Competitive (C), Team Open Social (D), Men’s Open Competitive (C), Men’s Open Social (D), Women's Competitive (C+), Women’s Challenger (C-), Women’s Open Social (D), and the Parent & Kids Social for children aged 8 to 14.

During the tournament, each team will take part in a minimum of three games during the group stage, and game formats will vary by category. For most categories, there will be six games to a set in the group stage, and nine in the knockout stages, while the parent and children categories will feature four games to a set in the group stage and six in the knockout stages.

The tournament will kick off on Friday, Dec. 1 with the parent and children categories, as well as the initial group stages to determine finalists for the knockout stages. The team category will consist of four players — two female and two male — taking on opponents in mixed and same-gender matches in the group stages and finals.

Simon Jelowitz, head of sport operations at the Emirates Dubai 7s, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to introduce padel to our schedule of sporting events for the 2023 Emirates Dubai 7s, which will offer a completely new experience for players. Padel is a sport that is growing rapidly around the world and it’s no different in the UAE with a number of padel courts set up across the country.

“Whether you’re trying for the first time or play regularly, this is a great opportunity to be part of our first-ever padel competition in what will be a fantastic weekend of sports and entertainment and we encourage everyone to register and book spots now.”


Victory for Saudi handball team in Asian Games as tennis duo, fencers bow out

Victory for Saudi handball team in Asian Games as tennis duo, fencers bow out
Updated 26 September 2023
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Victory for Saudi handball team in Asian Games as tennis duo, fencers bow out

Victory for Saudi handball team in Asian Games as tennis duo, fencers bow out
  • In Boxing, the Kingdom’s Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi qualified for the round of 16 in the 51kg category

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s mens handball team were victorious in their second game at the Asian Games on Monday, beating Mongolian 45-15.
Saudi Arabia were seeking to revive their tournament after loosing to Japan in the opening game. They are now in joint second place in Group D alongside Iran, who they play on Wednesday.
In Boxing, the Kingdom’s Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi qualified for the round of 16 in the 51kg category, while teammate Raghad Al-Naimi bowed out after losing to Kazakhstan’s Natalia Bogdanova in the 66kg weight class. 


Saudi rower Haia Al-Mami finished 12th in the overall standings of the W1x competition with a time of 8.84 minutes on Monday. 


In the taekwondo competition, it was the end of the road for Dania Abu Talibn after losing to China’s Guo Qing, who won the silver medal in the 2022 World Championships, by a round to nil in the sub-49kg weight category for women. 


Also heading out of the games were fencers Adel Al-Mutairi and Mohammed Al-Omar in the saber competition. Al-Mutairi defeated Jordan’s Osama Al-Masri 15-12 before losing 6-15 in the round of 16 to South Korea’s Oh Sang-uk, who won gold at 2020 Tokyo Olympics. And Al-Omar lost in the round of 32 to Japan’s Yoshida Kento. 


The Saudi shooting team, Misfer Al-Ammari, Bader Al-Otaibi, and Hussein Al-Harbi, finished their participation in the 10m air rifle competition. Al-Ammari ranked 12th with 624.5 points, Al-Otaibi ranked 24th with 615.8 points, and Al-Harbi ranked 50th with 614.5 points. As a team, they finished 12th with a total of 1854.8 points. 


Saudi tennis duo, Ammar and Yara Al-Hogbani, also bowed out of the games after a loss in the doubles competition.