Protests seem to have become a norm rather than an exception. On Friday, almost a dozen wrestlers had to resort to a protest outside the residence of Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in New Delhi before things moved fast. A day before, Wrestling Federation of India Sanjay Singh had announced he was pulling out the 12-member team from the World Championship (non-Olympic weight categories) to be held in Tirana, Albania from October 28 to 31. RevSportz has learnt legal options had also been explored in the Delhi High Court, before protest seemed the only way out. Around 6pm, Friday, Mandaviya gave the green signal.
Since January 2023, the wrestling controversy has been raging in the streets of New Delhi at the famous Jantar Mantar site. The same has been mentioned in detail, again, by Sakshi Malik as well, in her book. At the same time, it is also well-known now in the corridors of power in the Sports Ministry, who had engineered the wrestling protests. Officials with ulterior motives have since been moved out.
What was also strange was despite the world body (UWW) recognising the Wrestling Federation of India, the Sports Ministry continued to place it under suspension. It is believed the minister had a change of heart since the sport of wrestling has suffered in India massively. Off late, Mandaviya has been meeting officials from various national sports federations, athletes and journalists. The ‘ideas exchange’ programme initiated by Mandaviya is not linked not just to the proposed draft sports bill but sports at a macro view.
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For once, a sports minister stepping in to clear wrestlers’ participation in an important meet abroad needs to be appreciated. There could be repercussions in the Delhi High Court, but the grapevine says the ministry will handle it. It is also important to mention, before this, the same court had wanted three months ago the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to form a new adhoc body. They refused.
The battle between the Wrestling Federation of India and the other parties has been raging for a long time. Sanjay Singh first writing to UWW and mentioning “government interference” may not have seemed like a threat. What has swung things in favour of the wrestlers is a protest, which was peaceful.
For those who have tracked the wrestling controversies since 2023, the change of heart from sports minister Mandaviya is a positive sign. He is engaging with the stakeholders, athletes included. For the record, on Friday, he did meet wrestlers, even though they had been kept waiting till 6pm. It may be presumptuous to believe the court wranglings will end soon, but Mandaviya and the officers in the ministry will deal with it. He is aware certain former wrestlers will use social media and cry wolf.
At a time when wrestling has been removed from the 2026 Commonwealth Games programme in Glasgow, it is important the next generation of grapplers get to compete. Preparations for the Asian Games in Nagoya in 2026 cannot get affected.
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