Wrestler Bajrang Punia was suspended indefinitely by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), which could have an impact on his eligibility to compete in the upcoming Paris Olympics. Sources claim that on March 10, Punia neglected to submit a urine sample for the Sonepat selection trials, which is why NADA issued the order barring him from taking part in any events going forward.

With subject to paragraph 4:1:2 below and in accordance with article 7.4 of the NADR 2021, Bajrang Punia has been immediately provisionally suspended from participation in any competition or activity prior to the final decision reached at a hearing in this matter, according to an official release from NADA dated April 23.

Punia was in the forefront of accusations of sexual harassment made against former BJP MP and president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, along with a number of other elite wrestlers, such as Olympians Sakshi Malik and Vinesh.

The star wrestler, who earned the country’s bronze medal in the Olympics in Tokyo, will probably not be allowed to take part in the selection trials later this month due to his suspension in light of the allegations. In the 65kg division, no Indian has yet to win an Olympic quota.

India’s Sujeet Kalkal will compete in the World Qualifiers, which begin on May 9 in Istanbul.

The notice of suspension was sent not to the federation recognized by United World Wrestling (UWW), but to the now-defunct ad hoc committee of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

Punia rejected the directive of the drug control officer, alleging that NADA officials had not yet addressed his concerns. A few months before, Punia had uploaded a video purporting to have expired dope-collecting equipment.

The dope-collecting officer’s report states that he was told that his refusal would result in a warning for violating anti-doping regulations, but he still left.

Punia was asked to provide a written explanation by May 7th for his denial of providing a urine sample and supporting evidence.

Kolkata Knight Riders registered a 24-run win against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Friday in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League. KKR were restricted for 169 runs in 19.5 overs by the Mumbai Indians pace bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Nuwan Thushara’s three-fers. The Mumbai Indians in response were wrapped up for 145 runs as Mitchell Starc picked up a 4 wicket haul.

Venkatesh Iyer was the top scorer for Kolkata Knight Riders with a 70-run knock which took his side to the score as Manish Pandey scored 42 runs off his bat. Suryakumar Yadav was the lone ranger scoring 56 runs which gave Mumbai Indians some hope, but once he was dismissed the hosts batting order was folded by the KKR pace bowlers to pick up their 1st win at the Wankhede stadium in 12 years.

The Kolkata Knight Riders set a target of 170 runs for the Mumbai Indians. It was a disastrous start for KKR as they lost 4 important wickets in the powerplay itself and then another wicket fell in the very first ball after the first six overs. But the impact sub, Manish Pandey played the supporting role along with Venkatesh Iyer and brought the innings back to normal as the latter went on to finish with 70 runs in 52 balls to put the visitors in contention.

For Mumbai Indians, Nuwan Thushara gave outstanding bowling performance in the power play and picked up 3 important wickets. Hardik Pandya also supported in the middle overs by picking up 2 important wickets along with the lone wicket by Piyush Chawla. Jasprit Bumrah showed his class at the death overs by taking 3 important wickets in the latter stages of the innings as Mumbai Indians needed 170 to win the match. Mumbai Indians only needed 51 runs off the last 5 overs, but a superb effort from KKR’s bowlers put an end to their hopes.

Google has changed its homepage logo today to celebrate the extraordinary life of Hamid Banu. Hamida Banu, India’s first woman wrestler was born in the early 1900s near Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. Today’s Google Doodle shows an illustration of Hamida Banu in which she is surrounded by local flora and fauna.

Hamida Banu’s career spanned between the 1940s and 1950s, when she won more than 300 competitions. She often challenged male wrestlers to bouts. She even promised to marry them if they defeated her. Banu emerged as a force at a time when wrestling was still considered a male sport.

May 4 has been chosen as the date to publish a Google Doodle on Hamida Banu because it was on this day in 1954 that she challenged and defeated famed wrestler Baba Pahalwan in 1 minute and 34 seconds. He retired from professional wrestling after the defeat.

After defeating Baba Pahalwan in 1954 she received widespread coverage in international media. The Associated Press during the time reported the bout lasted 1 minute and 34 seconds, when the woman won a fall. Banu earned a lot of fame after the feat and came to be known as the Amazon of Aligarh. In a 1954 bout in Mumbai, Banu reportedly defeated Vera Chistilin, who was called Russia’s female bear, in less than 1 minute’s time.

The Google Doodle on India’s first woman wrestler has been created by Bengaluru-based artist Divya Negi. Negi said she was inspired by Hamida Banu’s fight against conservative norms of the Indian society during that time. She came to know more about Hamida Banu’s world during her Google Doodle research.  

Negi was inspired to learn that she fought fiercely against the conservative norms during her time. She said going against group thinking is one of the hardest things one can do, and being a woman adds another level of complexity to it. Despite the odds, Hamida Banu fought her way through and won.