Two Indian Judokas, One Coach Called Back From Exposure Trip In Spain After 'Brawl' With Women Athletes

Judo Federation of India (JFI) in a statement to PTI confirmed that there has been "some severe incident", though it did not specify whether it was a brawl or something else.

It could not be ascertained whether the women athletes were also judo players.

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New Delhi: Two Indian judokas and a national coach attached to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) were reportedly involved in an unsavoury and "severe incident" during an exposure trip in Spain, PTI reported. The incident involved women athletes from the host country. As per the report, the coach and two judokas have been called back from the trip following the incident at Alicante, Benidorm in Spain.

 

The coach, as per PTI, said one judoka was involved in a "brawl with a women group and later one female was found inside his hotel room".

 

It could not be ascertained whether the women athletes were also judo players.

"As a precautionary measure, the judoka, his roommate and their coach all have been called back to India. It appeared to be a brawl with the group of women and later one of them was found with the Indian judoka in his hotel room," the coach told PTI.

"The other judoka was not involved in the incident but he was a roommate of the athlete involved. The federation does not want to take any chances so they have asked for their return along with their coach." The coach added that no police complaint was filed against the Indians, PTI reported. 

Justice Pankaj Naqvi-administered Judo Federation of India (JFI) in a statement to PTI confirmed that there has been "some severe incident", though it did not specify whether it was a brawl or something else.

"We have received a message from the Indian judo team in Spain. Some severe incident took place, therefore JFI is calling back the sports persons involved in this matter to India," it read.

"I've got only ex parte allegations and I will not comment anything on it," Justice Naqvi told PTI.

 

A 30-member Indian contingent is touring Spain in their first exposure trip post the COVID-19 pandemic.

The incident comes days after a senior female cyclist, who has won multiple gold medals, had earlier this month complained to SAI about inappropriate behavior by a national coach at a preparatory camp in Slovenia. The female cyclist had complained of sexual harassment by the national coach during a training trip in Slovenia. The entire Indian contingent was then called back.

 

A female sailor had also claimed that her coach made her uncomfortable during a training trip abroad.

 

(With PTI Inputs)