Archive · 10 Jan 2026
NRAI Suspends Coach After Sexual Assault Allegations
A coach named Ankush Bhardwaj has been suspended after a young girl he was training accused him of doing something very wrong.
The girl said this happened during a big shooting competition.
The organization that runs shooting in India, called NRAI, has suspended him and said he can't coach until they figure out what happened.
The government also said that coaches and everyone involved should make sure young athletes are safe.
The coach has been in trouble before for taking something that's not allowed in sports.
The police are still looking into what happened.
Ankush Bhardwaj, a senior shooting coach, has been suspended by the NRAI after a 17-year-old girl accused him of sexual assault during the National Championships.
The NRAI has confirmed that an FIR has been registered against Bhardwaj in Faridabad under the POCSO Act and the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The Sports Ministry emphasized the responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure the safety of young athletes.
The incident occurred at the Karni Singh Range, where the coach allegedly asked the girl to meet him at a hotel for a performance review.
Bhardwaj had previously served a doping ban in 2010 for testing positive for a beta-blocker.
- Who
- Ankush Bhardwaj, a senior member of India’s shooting coaching staff, and a 17-year-old girl shooter
- What
- Bhardwaj has been accused of sexually assaulting the minor girl and suspended by the NRAI
- When
- The incident occurred during the National Championships last month, and the FIR was filed on January 1
- Where
- The incident took place at the Karni Singh Range in Faridabad
- Why
- The girl was targeted during the National Championships, and the coach was suspended on moral grounds
- Accused
- Ankush Bhardwaj
- Organization
- National Rifle Association of India (NRAI)
- Charges
- Section 6 of the POCSO Act, Section 351(2) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita
- Incident Location
- Karni Singh Range, Faridabad
- Victim's Age
- 17 years old
- Coach's Previous Incident
- Doping ban in 2010
