National Paralympic Coach Kuldeep Vedwan Sentenced to 5 Years in POCSO Case

The sentencing of national para archery coach Kuldeep Vedwan in a case involving the sexual harassment of a minor athlete has sent shockwaves across India’s sporting community, bringing a dramatic and deeply troubling fall for a coach once celebrated for producing world-class para archers.

A Fast Track Special Court in Sonipat sentenced Vedwan to five years of rigorous imprisonment under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act . The court also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 after holding him guilty earlier this month. Following the sentencing, the coach was taken back into custody.

The case dates back to April 2023 , when a minor para archer accused Vedwan of sexually harassing her during youth championship trials held at the Sports Authority of India centre in Sonipat . According to the complaint, the coach allegedly entered her hotel room around 4 am and made inappropriate physical advances. The athlete claimed she resisted for several minutes before managing to leave the room and seek safety with other female players.

The survivor further alleged that the coach repeatedly pressured her during later tournaments, allegedly promising to make her a “big player” if she cooperated with him. After informing her family, the matter was reported to authorities linked with the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board , following which a police complaint was filed in Sonipat in August 2023 .

The court convicted Vedwan under Sections 10 and 12 of the POCSO Act , with the sentences ordered to run concurrently. He had earlier been arrested in 2023 and remained in jail before securing bail ahead of the Paris Paralympics 2024 .

The verdict marks a stunning downfall for a coach who once occupied a respected place in Indian para sports. A former Army man and national-level archer, Vedwan played a major role in India’s para archery rise, coaching the national team at the 2018 Asian Para Games and the Tokyo Paralympics , where Harvinder Singh won India’s first Paralympic medal in archery.

He was also widely known for mentoring celebrated archer Sheetal Devi , the world’s first female armless archery world champion, helping her develop a unique shooting technique using her feet, shoulder and chin.

The case has now reignited serious conversations around athlete safety , institutional accountability , and the urgent need for stronger safeguards within Indian sports systems.