New Delhi:ย Theย Sports Ministryย has officiallyย revoked the suspensionย of theย Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), allowing it to resume operations afterย 15 months.
This decision clears the path for the federation to conductย selection trials for the upcoming Asian Championship in Amman, Jordan.
Suspension Lifted After Compliance
The WFI wasย suspended on December 24, 2023, due toย governance and procedural lapsesย by the newly elected body onย December 21, 2023.
The ministry had directed theย Indian Olympic Association (IOA)ย to form an ad-hoc panel to manage WFIโs affairs.
However, controversy arose when theย Sanjay Singh-led WFIย announcedย Under-15 and Under-20 National Championshipsย inย Nandini Nagar, Gonda, a stronghold of former WFI chiefย Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was facingย sexual harassment charges.
The government opposed this move, intensifying its scrutiny of the WFI.
In its latest order, theย ministry stated that WFI had taken necessary corrective measures, and in the larger interest ofย wrestlers and Indian wrestling, it decided to lift the suspension.
“I thank the government for taking this step. It will allow us to function smoothly. It was needed for the sake of the sport. The athletes were suffering for lack of competitions,”ย saidย WFI President Sanjay Singh.
Ministryโs Conditions for WFI
The ministry imposedย strict conditionsย on WFI, including:
- Ensuringย a balance of powerย among elected officials.
- Keepingย suspended/terminated officials disassociatedย from WFI operations.
- Theย WFI Executive Committee must submit an undertakingย within four weeks.
- Conductingย free, fair, and transparent selection trialsย for international competitions as perย Sports Code and United World Wrestling (UWW) guidelines.
“The EC of the WFI must give an undertaking in this regard within four weeks. Any violation will invite legal action, including under the Sports Code,”ย stated theย ministryโs order.
Wrestlers, Coaches Welcome Decision
Indian wrestlers had missedย Ranking Series tournaments in Zagreb and Albaniaย due to WFIโs suspension. There were fears they would also miss theย World Championship, but protests outside theย Sports Ministerโs residenceย led to their participation.
“We are so relieved that this suspension has been lifted. There was a complete lull; young wrestlers were suffering for no fault of theirs.
They were missing tournaments, and there was no national camp. The suspension should have been lifted long back,”ย said aย Haryana-based wrestling coach.
Veteran wrestlersย Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik, who led protests againstย Brij Bhushan, had earlier argued that a suspended WFI had no authority to select teams.
Vinesh later joinedย Congress, winning theย Julana seatย in theย Haryana elections, while Bajrang was appointedย chief of the All India Kisan Congress (AIKC).
With theย Asian Championship set for March 25, WFI will now resume selection trials, marking a fresh start for Indian wrestling.
