The Sports Ministry took decisive action on Sunday by suspending the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) until further notice.
This decision came in the wake of what the ministry termed a "hasty announcement" made by the newly-elected body regarding the organization of the U-15 and U-20 nationals.
The suspension was imposed due to concerns over the lack of sufficient notice provided to wrestlers for adequate preparation. The WFI elections, held on December 21, saw the victory of Sanjay Singh and his panel, staunch loyalists of former president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, securing substantial mandates in the polls.
What did Sanjay Singh say?
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When asked about the suspension, Singh said, "I was in a flight and I don't know the details. I have not even received the letter. I will first take a look at the letter and then take a step. I don't want to make a comment right now."
"The new body has not followed the WFI constitution. We have not terminated the Federation but suspended till further orders. They just need to follow the due process and the rules," a sports ministry official told PTI.
The source further explained the reasons for suspension.
"Sanjay Kumar Singh, newly-elected president of WFI announced on 21.12.2023, the day he was elected as president, that U-15 and U-20 nationals for Wrestling will take place in Nandini Nagar, Gonda (UP) before the end of this year.
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"This announcement is hasty, without giving sufficient notice to wrestlers who are to take part in the said nationals and without following the provisions of the constitution of WFI.
"As per clause 3 (e) of preamble of constitution of WFI, object of the WFI, among others, is to arrange holding of Senior, Junior and Sub Junior National Championships as per UWW Rules at places selected by the Executive Committee," said the ministry's source.
Sakshi Malik announced quitting wrestling
Sakshi Malik, Bajrang and Vinesh Phogat had addressed media after Sanjay Singh's election in which Sakshi, a bronze medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, announced that she would quit the sport as a mark of protest.
The three top wrestlers had accused Brij Bhushan of sexually exploiting several women wrestlers.
The aggrieved wrestlers had taken to the streets, did sit-in protests, forcing the government and the judiciary to intervene and resolve the matter, which included the formation of special panels to look into their complaints and grievances against Brij Bhushan and the federation he was leading, even as the grapplers contemplated throwing away their medals into river Ganga on May 19 in Haridwar.
With tears in her eyes, Rio Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik put her wrestling shoes on the table and announced her retirement from the sport as a mark of protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh loyalist Sanjay Singh winning the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) election for the top job, in Delhi on Thursday.
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Bajrang Punia returned his Padma Shri
Olympic medallist grappler Bajrang Punia on Friday returned his Padma Shri award to the government in protest against the election of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh loyalist Sanjay Singh as the president of Wrestling Federation of India.
Sanjay Singh was elected as the president of the WFI after the panel led by the close aide of Brij Bhushan won 13 of the 15 posts.
The wrestlers had demanded that no close associate of Brij Bhushan should enter the WFI.
