A teenager from Haryana, known for competitive shooting, stands at the center of a grave accusation that shakes trust in India's sports environment. Because of claims against national coach Ankush Bharadwaj, authorities in Faridabad opened an inquiry under child protection laws. Though facts remain unclear until proven, legal steps are now underway without delay. What adds weight to the situation is the power imbalance between someone young seeking growth and one placed in charge of their training. Since news emerged, reactions have spread fast across communities watching youth sport closely.

Once upon a time, Ankush Bharadwaj shot pistols competitively, gaining attention when he claimed gold at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games. That win lit up his early path. Still, things weren’t always smooth. By 2010, a shadow fell across his record - he faced a suspension for using beta-blockers, banned in shooting because they calm nerves and steady pulses. These drugs aren’t allowed since they might sharpen focus unfairly. Even so, he didn’t vanish from the scene. Over time, away from competition, he shifted gears - coaching became his next space.

After the Paris 2024 Olympics ended, Bharadwaj became one of thirty-seven coaches picked by India's sports body, following advice from the country’s rifle association. Not just involved in national training setups, he reportedly runs a private shooting school in Mohali, guiding youth aiming for competitive careers. News outlets mention he is married to a well-known Indian Olympic shooter. Though that detail caught media interest, it plays no role in the ongoing legal case and stands apart from current charges being examined.

Police records show the event happened on December 16, 2025. That morning, from 10:30 a.m., the teen girl fired rounds during a match at Delhi's Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range. Her competition ended by 11:45 a.m. Still, witnesses say she stayed on-site past noon. Around two o'clock, she left the facility. Later that day, according to the FIR, Bharadwaj reached out through WhatsApp. He invited the athlete to meet him downstairs at a luxury hotel in Surajkund. What did he say they needed to do? Put her recent game results into words. This assignment, so it seemed then, was just another step in standard job reviews.

A woman says that when she got to the hotel, Bharadwaj rang her, brought her to the elevator, then walked with her up to his room on level three. Midway through filling out the results document, so the claim goes, he started pushing down on her shoulders, saying he could pop her spine loose - called it part of healing after exertion. She said no, but according to the police record, he pushed her onto the mattress anyway and attacked her. Later that afternoon, close to four o’clock, he let her out near where she had parked; from there, she drove back to her house.

A report filed later outlines what came after the main event. The accusation says Bharadwaj told the underage athlete he’d destroy her path forward should she speak up. Power in high-level athletics frequently rests with trainers - they shape access to practice, team choices, and even long-term chances. Because of this setup, warnings like his can press hard on younger competitors, especially those counting on backing from organizations to move ahead.

Days after the claimed attack, Bharadwaj reached out to the sportswoman’s parents, saying she wasn’t paying attention at practice. According to the police report, those messages might have aimed to account for shifts in how she acted. She stayed quiet for a stretch, dealing with shock, dread, and inner turmoil. That changed on January 1, 2026, when her parents asked why she seemed so tense and withdrawn - then she told her mom what happened.

On January 6, 2026, after details came out, authorities officially logged the FIR at Faridabad's Women’s Police Station. Charges include Section 6 of the POCSO Act - covering severe sexual assault on a child - and Section 351(2) from the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, concerning threats meant to frighten. To check what was claimed, investigators started reviewing video records from the Surajkund hotel as well as the shooting range named after Dr. Karni Singh. That footage might help line up events in time. On January 9, 2026, authorities still hadn’t taken Bharadwaj into custody. Search efforts continue, led by specialized units working separately.

Right after getting the complaint, the National Rifle Association of India paused Ankush Bharadwaj's role without delay. Because of the ongoing probe, he won’t take part in any training duties for now - this follows a formal demand for explanation from the body. While the move lines up with their public stance on protecting athletes, doubts have surfaced over how well current systems actually guard players across Indian sports setups.

How things play out in court remains to be seen, yet what's clear is how these claims expose long-standing cracks in sports culture - especially around unequal authority, blurred work limits, and weak safeguards for underage players. With attention focused here now, many want stricter rules and open review processes because speaking up should never mean risking your place on the team. Even as officials dig deeper, one truth stands: greatness in sport loses meaning if it ignores basic safety and respect. Guarding athletes’ well-being, most of all those still growing into adulthood, needs to sit at the core of how India runs its games.

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Reference:

• The Times of India – Teen shooter accuses national coach of rape in Surajkund hotel, POCSO case filed (Jan 9, 2026)
• Faridabad Police (Women’s Police Station, NIT) – FIR dated Jan 6, 2026 Sections: POCSO Act (Sec 6), Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sec 351(2)
• National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) – Official suspension statement (Jan 8, 2026)
• Sports Authority of India (SAI) – Coach appointments post Paris 2024 Olympics
• The Indian Express – Profile of Ankush Bharadwaj (career & 2010 doping ban)
• The Tribune – Reports on Mohali-based shooting academy
• News Video Report – Haryana Shooter Alleges Sexual Assault by Coach Ankush Bharadwaj (Jan 8, 2026)