The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), currently under suspension, has been informed by the Sports Ministry that it lacks the authority to conduct the Senior National Championships. Any event organized by the WFI will be considered “unsanctioned” and “unrecognized”. The Sports Ministry suspended the WFI due to multiple rule violations and appointed a three-member ad-hoc panel to oversee its operations.
Despite the suspension, WFI chief Sanjay Singh has stated that the federation plans to host the national championships soon. Singh also refuses to recognize the suspension of the newly-elected body or the ad-hoc panel.
In a letter to Sanjay Singh, the Ministry strongly stated that any championships or competitions organized by the suspended Executive Committee members of the WFI will be treated as unsanctioned and unrecognized. Participation certificates and medals won in these competitions will hold no value for eligibility under government schemes, appointments, or admissions under sports quotas.
Only the National Wrestling Championships organized under the supervision of the IOA-appointed Ad hoc Committee for Wrestling will be considered sanctioned and recognized championships for wrestling under the Sports Code. Government benefits will only be available to athletes participating in these championships.
The ad-hoc panel had announced that it will host the senior national championships in Jaipur from February 2-5.
Indian wrestling has been marred by a power struggle in the past year, with protests against Sanjay Singh and allegations of sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Some wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, returned their awards in protest.
The Sports Ministry’s decision has been hailed as a positive move by Rohtash Singh, president of the Harayana Amateur Wrestling Association.
The Sports Ministry of India has declared that the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), currently under suspension, does not have the authority to conduct the Senior National Championships or any other events. The ministry suspended the WFI due to multiple rule violations and formed a three-member ad-hoc panel to oversee its operations. Despite the suspension, WFI chief Sanjay Singh stated that the federation plans to host the national championships. In response, the ministry sent a strongly-worded letter stating that any championships organized by the suspended WFI will be considered unsanctioned and unrecognized, and participants will not be eligible for government benefits or recognition. The ad-hoc panel had announced that it will host the senior national championships in Jaipur. This decision comes after a power struggle within Indian wrestling, with wrestlers returning awards and quitting the sport in protest against the WFI leadership.
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