To:

 

Wrestling Australia
Sport Integrity Australia
Victorian Wrestling Association
State and Territory Wrestling Associations, where applicable 
 

Subject: Request for Fair Consideration, Removal of Suspension, and Positive Inclusion of Coach Vinod Kumar in the Future Development of Wrestling

 

We, the undersigned athletes, parents, supporters, community members, and representatives associated with Melbourne National Wrestling Academy, respectfully submit this representation in support of Coach Vinod Kumar.

 

This submission is made in response to the recently circulated petition seeking a lifetime ban against Coach Vinod Kumar.

 

We strongly believe that the request for a permanent lifetime ban is excessive, unfair, and not reflective of Coach Vinod Kumar’s longstanding contribution to wrestling in Australia. We further submit that the petition process itself raises serious concerns regarding impartiality, competitive conflict, and coordinated attempts to damage both the reputation of Coach Vinod Kumar and Melbourne National Wrestling Academy.

 

Concerns Regarding the Petition

The petition appears to have been initiated and circulated by individuals associated with a competing wrestling club. This creates a legitimate concern regarding bias, competitive motivation, and improper influence within the wrestling community.

 

Additionally:

Petition materials and videos were circulated directly to parents of children associated with Melbourne National Wrestling Academy.

Materials were distributed among fellow wrestlers and members of the broader wrestling community.
The manner in which these materials were circulated raises genuine concerns regarding intent and whether the objective was disciplinary fairness or reputational harm.
We respectfully submit that disciplinary matters should be assessed independently, professionally, and through proper governance processes — not through public campaigns or pressure generated by rival organisations.

 

The petition also contains a number of broad allegations and character assertions presented without transparent evidentiary process or independent review.

A lifetime ban is the most severe sanction possible within sport and should only be considered in the clearest and most exceptional circumstances after a balanced and impartial assessment of:

the individual’s full history, contribution to the sport, community support, rehabilitation prospects,
and the broader interests of wrestling in Australia.
 

Contributions of Coach Vinod Kumar to Australian Wrestling:

Coach Vinod Kumar has dedicated many years to the development of wrestling in Australia as:

• an athlete,
• coach,
• referee,
• mentor,
• and grassroots community contributor.
  His achievements and qualifications demonstrate exceptional commitment to the sport at both national and international levels.

 

Sporting Achievements

Victorian State Championships

2010 – Champion
2011 – Champion
2012 – Champion
2015 – Champion

 

Australia Cup

2010 – Bronze
2012 – Silver
2014 – Bronze

 

Australia International Cup

2011 – Gold (Freestyle)
2011 – Bronze (Greco Roman)
2015 – Gold (Greco Roman)

 

Australia Challenge Championship 2011

Freestyle – Silver
Greco Roman – Silver

 

Canberra Cup

2014 – Silver (Freestyle & Greco Roman)
2015 – Gold (Greco Roman)

 

Australian National Championships

2012 – Gold
2013 – Bronze
2014 – Gold (Greco Roman), Bronze (Freestyle)
2015 – Silver (Freestyle & Greco Roman)
2016 – Gold (Greco Roman)
2021 – Silver (Greco Roman), Bronze (Freestyle)
2023 – Veterans Gold, Senior Silver
2025 – Veterans Gold (Greco), Silver (Freestyle)

 

International Representation

2016 Oceania Continental Wrestling Championship – Gold
2016 African & Oceania Olympic Qualifier – Silver
Qualified for the Rio Olympics 2016 representing Australia
 

International Qualifications

Coach Vinod Kumar also holds internationally recognised credentials including:

International UWW Referee
International UWW Wrestling Coach
UWW Beach Wrestling Referee
UWW Beach Wrestling Coach
These credentials reflect years of technical expertise, international recognition, and commitment to the growth of wrestling.

 

Contribution to Grassroots Wrestling and Youth Development

Coach Vinod Kumar currently trains and mentors more than 50 young athletes through Melbourne National Wrestling Academy.

 

Under his leadership:

• young athletes have achieved outstanding results at state and national levels,
• participation in wrestling within multicultural communities has significantly increased,
• many children have developed discipline, confidence, fitness, and leadership skills,
• and families have found a safe and positive sporting environment.

Events and Service to the Sport:

Vinod organise Pro Sports League Australia wrestling competitions every 4–5 months and have completed four successful seasons. I also organised Kids, U17, and U23 wrestling competitions in September 2024, April 2025, and November 2025, with the last scheduled was on March 29th,2026. All have run without issue.

 

Parents and supporters continue to support Coach Vinod Kumar because they have directly witnessed:

• his dedication to young athletes,
• his commitment to coaching,
• and the positive impact he has had on children and families within the community.

The continued success and growth of Melbourne National Wrestling Academy demonstrate the trust and confidence many families place in Coach Vinod Kumar and his coaching program.

 

The Importance of Fairness and Natural Justice

Sporting governance must always remain fair, balanced, and independent.

Any disciplinary process should:

• avoid influence from rival organisations,
• avoid public pressure campaigns,
• and ensure decisions are based on objective assessment rather than emotion or competitive interests
  
  We respectfully submit that permanent exclusion from the sport would not serve the long-term interests of Australian wrestling, particularly when Coach Vinod Kumar continues to make significant positive contributions to athlete development and grassroots participation.

 

Request to Wrestling Australia

We respectfully request that Wrestling Australia and all relevant bodies:

• Reject the request for a lifetime ban.
• Bring any current suspension or restrictions to a fair and reasonable conclusion.
• Consider Coach Vinod Kumar’s longstanding contributions to Australian wrestling.
• Recognise the positive impact Melbourne National Wrestling Academy has had on young athletes and multicultural participation in the sport.
• Consider Coach Vinod Kumar for future involvement within Wrestling Victoria governance or advisory structures, where his experience and international expertise may assist the future development of wrestling in Australia.
   

Closing Statement

Coach Vinod Kumar has dedicated years of his life to wrestling as:

• a national champion,
• international representative,
• Olympic qualifier,
• accredited international coach and referee,
• and mentor to young athletes.

 

He has played a major role in developing grassroots wrestling and inspiring multicultural participation within the Australian wrestling community.

 

We respectfully ask that all relevant organisations consider the complete picture, including:

his achievements, his service to the sport, the support of parents and athletes, and the importance of fairness and proportionality in sporting governance.

We believe the future of Australian wrestling is best served through unity, fairness, development, and constructive leadership — not division driven by rivalry or public campaigns.

 

Sincerely,

Supporters, Parents, Athletes, and Community Members
Melbourne National Wrestling Academy