Another twist to the weightlifting controversy

Published>Wed, Jul 28 10 05:48 AM

In a twist to the sexual harassment controversy, all the 16 women weightlifters training at the Commonwealth Games camp, through a letter, have asked the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to reinstate the suspended coach Ramesh Malhotra.

After the Olympics bronze medalist Karnam Malleswari had alleged that Malhotra had been sexually harassing lifters for more than a decade, the coach was asked to move out of the camp.

Interestingly, the letter was dispatched just ahead of the inquiry committee's visit to the camp to speak to the women lifters. The committee comprises of IWF vice-president Kumbasi Subramanya, veteran coach Pal Singh Sandhu and joint Secretary Madan Lal Savli. Those in the know say that the lifters were forced to sign the letter but chief national coach Harnam Singh denied it.

"I have read the signed letter in which the girls have supported the coach. There was no pressure on them to sign," he revealed.

The letter, a copy of which is in possession of The Indian Express, states that no one from the camp had complained against Malhotra. The letter further states, "The morale of the team members have been affected and this will certainly affect the performance of the women team in the CWG 2010".

Source: Web Search