Sakshi's bronze the lone bright spot for wrestling
Dec 29, 2016, DHNS
Sakshi Malik’s bronze medal at the Rio Olympics and a doping controversy involving Narsingh Yadav, considered a medal hope, marked the Indian wrestling year.
Narsingh was handed a four-year ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), just a day before his bout at the Games after a protracted tussle.
Narsingh, who had won the Olympic quota for India, had got the nod ahead of the two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, who cried foul demanding a trial. But the demand was rejected by the Wrestling Federation of India.
Narsingh, the Asian Championships gold medallist, then tested positive for steroid methandienone. Claiming that he was framed, Narsingh submitted a written complaint to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) citing conspiracy.
The WFI sent the name of Praveen Rana in the 74kg category as a back-up to Narsingh, who awaited a verdict from the National Anti-Doping Agency Disciplinary Panel.
In an extraordinary judgement, NADA upheld Narsingh’s claims of sabotage and exonerated him, allowing the WFI to send the wrestler to the Games. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed NADA’s verdict and the CAS’ decision to ban Narsingh left India red-faced.
The other Indian wrestlers, including Yogeshwar Dutt, disappointed but Sakshi rose to the occasion to nail the bronze in a spectacular comeback.
Boxing gets a new body
The administrative unrest that lasted for close to four years in boxing finally ended with the formation of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) as the new governing body of the sport.
The turmoil began when the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) was suspended by the Amateur International Boxing Association for malpractice in its polls four years ago. Boxing India (BI) was set up as the governing body by the AIBA in 2014 but after a year, the world body suspended it due to lack of progress.
Following its decision, the AIBA installed an ad-hoc committee to take care of the proceedings in India.
With no official federation, the Indian boxers faced the threat of not being allowed to participate at the Rio Games. After first setting a deadline for India to elect a new body, the AIBA extended the time-limit and allowed the Indian boxers to participate at the Olympics.
After a dismal show at the Games, the Sports Ministry gave the nod for the registration of BFI as the new body and Ajay Singh was elected as the president. However, BFI’s bid to get recognition from the Indian Olympic Association continued to drag on as the IOA claimed it will first consult the erstwhile IABF before taking a final decision.
In the ring, while no Indians won a medal in Rio, Vijender Singh continued to make progress in the professional ranks, notching up some fine wins.
Narsingh was handed a four-year ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), just a day before his bout at the Games after a protracted tussle.
Narsingh, who had won the Olympic quota for India, had got the nod ahead of the two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar, who cried foul demanding a trial. But the demand was rejected by the Wrestling Federation of India.
Narsingh, the Asian Championships gold medallist, then tested positive for steroid methandienone. Claiming that he was framed, Narsingh submitted a written complaint to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) citing conspiracy.
The WFI sent the name of Praveen Rana in the 74kg category as a back-up to Narsingh, who awaited a verdict from the National Anti-Doping Agency Disciplinary Panel.
In an extraordinary judgement, NADA upheld Narsingh’s claims of sabotage and exonerated him, allowing the WFI to send the wrestler to the Games. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed NADA’s verdict and the CAS’ decision to ban Narsingh left India red-faced.
The other Indian wrestlers, including Yogeshwar Dutt, disappointed but Sakshi rose to the occasion to nail the bronze in a spectacular comeback.
Boxing gets a new body
The administrative unrest that lasted for close to four years in boxing finally ended with the formation of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) as the new governing body of the sport.
The turmoil began when the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) was suspended by the Amateur International Boxing Association for malpractice in its polls four years ago. Boxing India (BI) was set up as the governing body by the AIBA in 2014 but after a year, the world body suspended it due to lack of progress.
Following its decision, the AIBA installed an ad-hoc committee to take care of the proceedings in India.
With no official federation, the Indian boxers faced the threat of not being allowed to participate at the Rio Games. After first setting a deadline for India to elect a new body, the AIBA extended the time-limit and allowed the Indian boxers to participate at the Olympics.
After a dismal show at the Games, the Sports Ministry gave the nod for the registration of BFI as the new body and Ajay Singh was elected as the president. However, BFI’s bid to get recognition from the Indian Olympic Association continued to drag on as the IOA claimed it will first consult the erstwhile IABF before taking a final decision.
In the ring, while no Indians won a medal in Rio, Vijender Singh continued to make progress in the professional ranks, notching up some fine wins.
No comments:
Post a Comment