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[Blwe_torch]

Women wrestlers and WFI unite against Sonika, refute charges
Gaurav Kanthwal & Piyali Dasgupta, TNN, Aug 10, 2010, 01.06am IST

Sonika Kaliraman
NEW DELHI: Reacting to various charges that woman wrestler Sonika Kaliraman has hurled at the Wrestling Federation of India and the coaching staff, the WFI issued a letter signed by 28 core group female wrestlers, presently at a camp in Patiala, refuting the allegations. Meanwhile, speaking to TOI, chief national coach, PR Sondhi said,

"As far as I know, Sonika has not complained of any harassment whether sexual or any other against me or any other coaching staff. She appeared for trials once and lost both the bouts. After that she has never been part of the camp."

In Delhi, Sonika, along with two other wrestlers - Kamlesh and Shumel - staged a protest demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Monday under the banner of All Indian Woman Wrestling Association and condemned the 'callous' attitude of WFI officials in not selecting deserving wrestlers for CWG 2010.

Sonika, who recently went to Delhi High Court with complaints against the selection process - the case was thrown out by the court - demanded open trials, alleging that the selection process was biased and federation officials took bribes for selecting grapplers.

Adding the sexual harassment angle to the saga, Sonika, daughter of legendary wrestler Chandgi Ram who died recently, told TOI: "In 1998-99, I was part of a sub-junior team which was sent to Poland. there, the coach came to my room drunk and misbehaved with me. I told my father about the incident and he spoke to WFI president GS Mander about it. But the reality is, these things are still happening."

Mander, who is also the chairman of the selection panel, said: "All her allegations are false and baseless. WFI will file a defamation suit against her."

Teams for CWG, Worlds

CWG 2010 squad:

Men's (freestyle): Anil Kumar (55kg), Yogeshwar Dutt (60), Sushil Kumar (66), Sumit (74), Anuj Kumar (84), Mausam Khatri (96), Rajiv Tomar (120).

( Greco-Roman): Rajender Kumar (55kg), Ravinder Singh (60), Sunil Kumar (66), Sanjay Kumar (74), Manoj Kumar (84), Anil Kumar (96), Dharmender Dalal (120).

Women's: Nirmala Devi (48 Kg), Babita Kumari (51), Geeta (55), Alka Tomar (59), Suman Kundu (63), Anita (67), Gursharanpreet Kaur (72)

World Wrestling C'ship team:

Men's (freestyle): Vinod Kumar (55kg), Yogeshwar Dutt (60), Sushil Kumar (66), Narsingh Yadav (74), Mausam Khatri (96), Joginder (120). Greco-Roman: Rajender Kumar (55 kg), Ravinder Singh (60), Sunil Kumar (66), Rajbir Chhikara (74), Dharmender Dalal (120).


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/wrestling/Women-wrestlers-and-WFI-unite-against-Sonika-refute-charges/articleshow/6284508.cms