In the midst of controversies surrounding the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for the past 11 months, the Sports Ministry suspended the new WFI body on December 24.
This move was prompted by the recent election of Sanjay Singh as president, a figure closely associated with Brij Bhushan Singh, who has been under fire for alleged sexual harassment charges leveled by medal-winning female wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik.
“The new body has not followed the WFI constitution,” stated officials from the Sports Ministry clarifying that WFI is not termination but suspended and it would persist until further orders. The ministry officials emphasized the need for the new WFI administration to adhere to due process and established rules.
The reasons behind the suspension were expounded upon by an official source from the Sports Ministry. The newly-elected president, Sanjay Kumar Singh, announced on the very day of his election, December 21, 2023, that the U-15 and U-20 nationals for Wrestling would take place in Nandini Nagar, Gonda (Uttar Pradesh) before the end of the year.
This announcement was deemed hasty, lacking sufficient notice to participating wrestlers and failing to adhere to the provisions of the WFI constitution.
Citing Clause 3 (e) of the preamble of the WFI constitution, the source highlighted that the objective of the WFI includes arranging the Senior, Junior, and Sub-Junior National Championships as per UWW Rules at places selected by the Executive Committee. The abrupt decision to host championships without proper adherence to these regulations was a significant factor in the suspension.
The story unfolds against the backdrop of electoral politics within the WFI, where Sanjay Singh emerged as the president just three days before the suspension.
The controversy deepened when WFI announced, on December 28, the hosting of the Junior National Championship Tournament in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh. Gonda happens to be the parliamentary constituency of Brij Bhushan Singh, adding a political dimension to the unfolding drama. Brij Bhushan Singh, who was the president of the previous WFI body, faced serious allegations of sexual harassment from female wrestlers.
The decision to suspend the new WFI body found support from figures within the wrestling community. Sakshi Malik's mother, Krishna Malik, expressed satisfaction, indicating that her daughter would reconsider her retirement from wrestling. Meanwhile, Bajrang Punia, a wrestler of high repute, also weighed in, hinting at the possibility of returning his honors in protest.
Sanjay Singh, reacting to the suspension, expressed astonishment and stated that he would seek clarification from the Sports Ministry about the decision.
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