Olympic coach Sandeep Sejwal has downplayed allegations of physical and verbal abuse on students, days after he was suspended from his position as head coach at the High Performance Swimming Centre in Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Stadium.
“The committee is already investigating the allegations,” Sejwal told The Bridge.
“I would not like to make any further comments,” he added.
As per the report, the Odisha government and JSW are likely to meet on Monday to investigate the matter.
Under the mentorship of Sejwal, Odisha bagged a gold medal in the 4×100 medley relay and brought home several other honours from National Games 2025 in Uttarakhand.
Sejwal, a 2008 Beijing Olympian and a 2014 Asian Games bronze medallist, was leading he JSW-IIS swimming program in 2022.
In a video going viral, students at the sports hostel staged a protest, refusing toeat dinner until their grievances were addressed.
“We are constantly threatened with expulsion if we speak out,” said one of the complainants during an interaction with the media. “The coach verbally abuses us, physically intimidates trainees, and punishes us unfairly,” he added.
Sejwal is also accused of making false complaints to their families.
“He called my home and told my parents I had misbehaved. When I asked for proof, he got furious and threatened to throw me out,” said another athlete in the same video that is being circulated.