When Excellence Masks Exploitation

Traditionally, Indian sport has valued discipline, sacrifice, and unquestioning respect for authority as prerequisites for excellence. Medals are positioned as national pride, coaches as creators of greatness, and young players as beacons of potential. However, the allegations made by a 17-year-old competitive shooter against national coach Ankush Bharadwaj expose the darker side of a system where ambition, hierarchy, and silence converge to enable abuse. The sports scandal currently under investigation by the Faridabad police under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act raises a disturbing question: when should sporting success be rejected in favor of basic safety and dignity?

The Accused and the Power of Authority

The profile of Ankush Bharadwaj reflects the concentration of institutional authority common in elite sports. A former pistol shooter and gold medalist at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2008, Bharadwaj later became a science teacher and subsequently an authority figure as one of the 37 coaches engaged by the Sports Authority of India on the recommendation of the National Rifle Association of India following the 2024 Paris Olympics. He also operated a private shooting academy in Mohali, further extending his influence over aspiring athletes.

However, his sporting career was not without controversy. In 2010, he was banned after a doping test found him guilty of using beta-blockers prohibited in shooting sports. Although the ban did not end his career, it highlights a recurring institutional pattern in which reputations are rapidly rehabilitated when performance credentials outweigh ethical considerations. Critics argue that this dynamic fosters a culture where authority is rarely questioned.

December 16: The Alleged Abuse of Trust

According to the FIR and media reports, the alleged incident occurred on December 16, 2025, during a competition at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in Delhi. Crucially, the setting was not a personal meeting initiated by the athlete but an extension of routine training and performance evaluation. Bharadwaj allegedly contacted the minor via WhatsApp and instructed her to drive to a five-star hotel in Surajkund to prepare a performance report.

What followed, as described in the FIR, illustrates how professional trust can be weaponized. The coach allegedly summoned her to the lift area, took her to his hotel room, and, while she was working on the report, began physically touching her under the guise of recovery techniques commonly referenced in sports. The mention of “cracking the back” is particularly troubling, as it demonstrates how technical language and authority can blur boundaries for young athletes conditioned to obey superiors.

Power Imbalance and the Anatomy of Grooming

The alleged pattern aligns with global findings on coach-athlete abuse. Grooming in sports often begins with subtle boundary violations, normalization of inappropriate contact, private meetings, and exploitation of training environments. In this case, the hotel room setting, both symbolically and practically, removed the safeguards of a public training space.

Power imbalance is central to this dynamic. A 17-year-old athlete dependent on evaluations, selections, and institutional approval is structurally vulnerable when summoned by an authority figure. Under Indian law, such circumstances render consent both unethical and unlawful, as addressed under the POCSO Act, which prescribes severe punishment for aggravated sexual assault.

Trauma, the Two-Week Gap, and Silence

Delayed disclosure is frequently misunderstood in cases involving minors. In this instance, the athlete reportedly remained silent for over two weeks before confiding in her mother on January 1, 2026. Trauma research consistently identifies delayed reporting as a common response, particularly when the perpetrator holds power over the victim.

Fear of retaliation, self-blame, shock, and concern for family reputation often compound trauma. The athlete alleged that Bharadwaj threatened to destroy her career if she disclosed the incident, a tactic uniquely effective in elite sports systems where opportunities and resources are limited. Silence in such cases reflects the psychological cost of authority rather than disbelief.

Gaslighting as Professional Management

The FIR also describes post-incident behavior that further complicates the case. Bharadwaj allegedly contacted the athlete’s parents, accusing her of poor discipline and lack of training compliance. If substantiated, such actions align with classic gaslighting strategies designed to pre-emptively discredit victims and reframe trauma-induced behavioral changes as professional shortcomings.

In hierarchical sports systems, parents often place implicit trust in coaches, interpreting criticism as expert judgment. This dynamic can enable abusers to manipulate narratives, reinforce isolation, and maintain silence.

Institutional Response: Swift Suspension, Slow Justice

Following the registration of the FIR on January 6, 2026, the National Rifle Association of India suspended Bharadwaj and issued a show-cause notice, barring him from coaching activities during the inquiry. While this swift administrative action signals procedural accountability, it also raises broader questions about preventive safeguards.

As of January 9, 2026, Bharadwaj had not been arrested, though police reported active efforts to locate him and review CCTV footage from the hotel and shooting range. The contrast between rapid institutional suspension and slower criminal proceedings reflects a recurring tension between image management and justice delivery.

Beyond One Case: The Systemic Cost of Medals

This case is not an isolated incident but part of a global pattern where athletic success frequently overshadows athlete welfare. Young competitors are conditioned to equate pain with discipline, silence with professionalism, and obedience with opportunity. In medal-driven systems, protective mechanisms often become secondary.

Systems that reward outcomes without scrutinizing processes inadvertently create environments where abuse can thrive unnoticed. Child protection training, independent grievance redressal mechanisms, and safety protocols are frequently reactive rather than preventive.

Redefining Success in Sport

While December 16, 2025, marks a personal tragedy for one athlete, January 1, 2026—the day she spoke up—represents a broader act of resistance within a system that discourages dissent. Courts will determine the legal outcome, but the implications extend beyond a single verdict.

For Indian sport to progress meaningfully, success must be redefined to include safety, accountability, and ethical leadership. Victories achieved at the cost of trust and childhood are not triumphs—they are warnings.

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References:

• Times of India. (2026, January 9). Teen sooter accuses national coach of rape in Surajkund hotel, POCSO case filed. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
• National Rifle Association of India. (2026, January 8). Official statement on suspension of coach Ankush Bharadwaj pending inquiry. NRAI. https://sports.ndtv.com
• The Tribune. (2026). Background profile of Ankush Bharadwaj in relation to sexual assault allegations. The Tribune India https://www.tribuneindia.com
• Indian Express. (2026). Former shooter Ankush Bharadwaj’s career, doping ban, and coaching appointment details. The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com