A case of alleged sexual assault of a trainee girl athlete by a Sports Authority of India coach was registered here and Cuttack Mahila police began investigations into it today. The 20-year-old trainee athlete went to the police station with her parents and lodged a written complaint alleging that she was mentally and physically assaulted by the coach for the past several days.

``On the basis of the complaint, we have registered a case under section 354-A (criminal force with intent to outrage modesty, 323 (causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation), 34 (common intention) of IPC and section 10 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (Pocso) Act,’’ said Mahila police station inspector Sakuntala Pati.

The coach has, however, denied the allegations against him. The police have interrogated him and some inmates of the SAI hostel here. Police said the coach has denied the sexual slur levelled against him but has admitted to slapping the trainee athlete twice as an act of reprimand for certain wrong doings by her.