Archery Coach Kuldeep Vedwan sentenced 5 Years Prison in POCSO Act after Sexually Harassing Minor Athletes

A Fast Track Special Court in Sonipat, Haryana, on Wednesday sentenced prominent national para-archery coach Kuldeep Vedwan to five years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually harassing a minor female athlete.

Additional Sessions Judge Narendra convicted Vedwan under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He was awarded five years rigorous imprisonment under Section 10 and three years under Section 12 of the Act. Both sentences will run concurrently. The court also imposed a total fine of ₹15,000.

The incident occurred in April 2023 during the Youth Archery Championship Trials in Sonipat. The victim, a 17-year-old national-level archer at the time, alleged that Vedwan entered her hotel room around 4 AM and made inappropriate physical advances. She further claimed that he repeatedly pressured her to stay in his room during the event.

Vedwan, a former national-level archer and founder of the Kuldeep Vedwan Sports Foundation, was widely respected in Indian archery circles. He had coached several top para-archers, including world champion Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag. He was arrested following the complaint in 2023 but was later released on bail.

The verdict has sent shockwaves through the Indian sports fraternity, particularly in para-sports, and has once again highlighted concerns regarding athlete safety and the accountability of coaches in national training camps.