WFI: Wrestling Federation of india gets big relief, sports Ministry lifts suspension; Dispute likely to end
There was a dispute going on in WFI for the last few years and after this decision of the sports Ministry, the dispute seems to be over.
The Wrestling Federation of india (WFI) has received a big relief and the sports Ministry has lifted the suspension imposed on the federation with immediate effect. There was a dispute going on in WFI for the last few years and after this decision of the sports Ministry, the dispute seems to be over.
The sports Ministry had suspended the WFI executive committee led by sanjay singh for allegedly violating the sports code. Wrestling's global body United World Wrestling (UWW) also lifted the suspension from Sanjay Singh-led WFI last year. After this, the indian Olympic Association (IOA) decided to dissolve the ad-hoc committee led by Bhupendra Singh Bajwa, which was looking after the daily work of wrestling in India. WFI Executive Committee Chairman sanjay singh may have gotten relief from UWW and IOA, but he was waiting for relief from the central government, which has now been fulfilled. The government had taken action against WFI citing violation of rules and WFI was suspended just three days after the elections were completed.
The committee led by sanjay singh, a close aide of former WFI President Brij bhushan Sharan Singh, won the elections on 21 december 2023. After this, he announced to hold national championships in the Under-15 and Under-20 categories. However, the venue for this championship was kept in Nandini nagar of Gonda, which is the stronghold of Brij Bhushan. This thing hurt the government. The sports Ministry took action on 24 december 2023 and decided to suspend WFI.
Suspension lifted after 15 months.
Due to the suspension of WFI, wrestlers were facing many problems. Due to this, a situation of conflict was also arising between the federation and the sports Ministry, due to which the wrestlers suffered the most. However, the removal of the suspension has opened the way for organizing domestic tournaments and now there will be no dilemma for selection for international tournaments. The ministry said in its order that WFI has taken corrective steps due to which the suspension imposed on it is lifted. In this way, the sports Ministry lifted the suspension imposed on WFI after about 15 months.
Sanjay Singh expressed gratitude.
WFI President sanjay singh said, 'I thank the ministry for this decision. Now we will be able to work smoothly. This was very important for the sport. The players were upset due to not being able to participate in the competitions.' The ministry has however asked WFI to follow some instructions such as WFI will have to ensure that the balance of power is maintained among the elected officials and it keeps itself away from the suspended or dismissed officials. The new general secretary Prem Chand Lochab was elected from the opposing camp and the ministry's instructions can be understood in that context. The ministry asked to follow the instructions.
It also said that the WFI should ensure that the selection for all international competitions should be done in a free, fair, and transparent manner by the existing provisions of the sports Code and other latest instructions issued in this regard along with the rules issued by the UWW from time to time. The WFI president said there is nothing that cannot be followed.
Indian wrestlers were not able to participate in the Ranking Series tournaments in Zagreb and albania due to the ministry's suspension and court cases filed by prominent wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Satyavrat Kadiyan. The wrestlers, who led the protest against Brij Bhushan, had argued that the WFI did not have the right to select the national teams due to being suspended.
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