Tag Archives: MM Somaiya

Aditi Chauhan, MM Somaiya to be government observers for Vinesh Phogat’s Asiad trial

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Backed by the Supreme Court, Vinesh Phogat will compete in the Asian Games selection trials on Saturday with IOA and Sports Ministry observers present, ensuring transparency in a closely watched wrestling showdown.

Aditi Chauhan, MM Somaiya to be government observers for Vinesh Phogat’s Asiad trial (Image: PTI)

Former footballer Aditi Chauhan and Olympic gold-winning ex-hockey captain M M Somaiya will be the two observers from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Sports Ministry when Vinesh Phogat competes in the high-profile women’s wrestling trials for the Asian Games here on Saturday.

According to a well-placed source, Chauhan would be representing the IOA and Somaiya would be the observer from Ministry and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here.

The 31-year-old Phogat got the go ahead to appear in the trial from the Supreme Court on Friday.

She had been first permitted to fight by the Delhi High Court after challenging a suspension imposed by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) citing procedural and disciplinary violations by her, including a missed dope test last year.

The WFI challenged the HC order in the top court, which too refused to stop Phogat.

“Today at this stage, the high court having passed the order, the hope and expectations have risen. To tell her to go back home and we can’t do anything, will not be proper. We are very bold in telling you this,” the bench told the counsel appearing for the WFI.

The Delhi HC had asked the ministry to appoint observers for the trials while chiding WFI for trying to prevent Phogat from competing.

Chauhan, a trailblazing former goalkeeper who played professionally in the UK with West Ham United, is currently the Program Officer for the IOA’s Athlete Commission (Safeguarding & National Olympic Academy), having been appointed to the role earlier this year.

She made 57 appearances for India before retiring.

Somaiya was a part of the 1980 Olympic gold-winning Indian hockey team and captained the side in the 1988 Seoul Games. Somaiya is also an Arjuna awardee.

Earlier this month, the WFI had declared Phogat ineligible to participate in domestic events till June 26, saying that she had still not completed the mandatory six-month notice period for a retired athlete’s return.

Phogat, however, had turned up at the National Open Ranking Tournament in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda only to return without competing. Her bitter feud with WFI dates back to 2023 when she led a street protest against the then federation Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexual harassment.

source: http://www.indiatoday.in / India Today / Home> News> Sports> Other Sports / by Press Trust of India / May 29th, 2026

Union sports minister meets women hockey players at SAI Madikeri Centre

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ANI Photo | Union sports minister meets women hockey players at SAI Madikeri Centre

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya visited the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Training Centre in Madikeri on May 2 and engaged with women hockey players from the Kodava community at the conclusion of a month-long hockey festival.

Mandaviya emphasised the importance of nurturing talent from across India to achieve the nation’s ambitions of becoming a global sports powerhouse. He highlighted the contributions of the Kodava community in promoting field hockey, noting that Kodagu district is considered one of the cradles of Indian hockey. Over 50 players from the community have represented India internationally, including seven Olympians such as P Govinda, MP Ganesh, MM Somaiya and CS Poonacha.

“Future Olympians in the making! Met with the rising stars of Indian Hockey from the SAI Training Centre (STC), Madikeri, Karnataka,” Mandaviya stated in a post on X.

The minister remarked that the Union Government is committed to developing a comprehensive sports ecosystem and identified the forthcoming 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad as a positive step. He added that India’s rich talent pool provides strong prospects for sporting dominance.

“Taking inspiration from our Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, the Sports Ministry is committed to nurturing the wide talent pool available across various parts of the nation. Unearthing and nurturing talent from different parts of the country can only ensure that we fulfil the dream of Modi ji. The bigger the talent pool, more the chances of us performing better in big ticket events. I am confident that both Indian men and women will register solid performance in the Commonwealth Games in 2030, where hockey is likely to make a return,” Mandaviya said.

The SAI Training Centre in Madikeri spans 5.49 acres in the hill station region of Kodagu District, approximately 1,100 metres above sea level. It operates as a feeder centre for 22 National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs) across India. Facilities include an artificial hockey turf, a 60-bed hostel, dining hall and kitchen. Around 50 girls from the Kodava community train there for various hockey events organised across Karnataka.

source: http://www.thenewsmill.com / The News Mill / Home> Sports / by The News Mill (with ANI inputs / May 02nd, 2026