Indian wrestling’s focus is set to return to the mat after more than 14 months. For one, a Delhi High Court ruling next week may lift the clouds of doubt. For another, according to those close to powers that be, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will also revoke its suspension of the newly elected body of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), imposed in December 2023.
After the WFI, empowered by the recognition from United World Wrestling (UWW), called for trials to select the squad for the Olympic Games qualifiers, Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, as well as Vinesh Phogat and some others, approached the Delhi High Court on Friday to stay the trials on the grounds that the WFI was suspended by the Sports Ministry.
Just to jog the readers’ memory, the Ministry suspended the newly elected body of the WFI within hours of results being declared. Elections were held under the directions of the Supreme Court on December 21, but the Ministry quickly suspended the WFI and asked the Indian Olympic Association to set up an ad hoc committee to administer the sport in India.
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Since January 2023, most space in the public domain was devoted to controversies around wrestling. All that did no good for the sport. Even after fresh elections, the protesting wrestlers said the newly elected body, headed by Sanjay Singh, was not acceptable to them since he was close to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former WFI president.
The controversies plaguing Indian wrestling impacted the sport. The performances of the elite athletes dipped. The proof of this was found at the Asian Games in Hangzhou last year, where India could win only a silver and five bronze medals. Compared to the lofty standards of the past, this was an anaemic performance. At the grassroots level also, the sport suffered.
With UWW recognising the elected body of the WFI on February 13, some clarity has emerged. It announced trials at the IG Stadium in New Delhi on March 10 and 11 to select teams for the Asian Championship and the Olympic qualifiers in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The Asian Championship will be held in from April 11 to 16 and the Olympic qualifiers (Asian region) from April 19 to 21.
The world body also directed the WFI to not discriminate against any of the protesting wrestlers. With just about four months left for the Paris Olympics, the WFI called for trials, and offered the olive branch to Sakshi, Bajrang, Vinesh and other aggrieved wrestlers. Apart from the trials, the WFI has also proposed to hold national camps at NIS Patiala and New Delhi.
However, Bajrang declared that they would not compete in the trials conducted by the WFI. “We will compete in the trials only if it is conducted by the Ministry or the ad hoc committee of the Indian Olympic Association,” he was quoted as saying. “The WFI is still suspended by the Ministry and can’t hold the trials.”
Some of the confusion is probably the result of the Indian Olympic Association not disbanding the ad hoc committee it had appointed under advise from the Ministry. Given the sensitive situation, IOA may be waiting for a clearance from the Ministry before it disbands it.
It seems that the wrestlers overlooked the fact that since the UWW decided to recognise the elected WFI, all Indian entries to international events would have to be routed through the national federation. They also seem to have ignored the fact that the trials had been called for at the Government-owned Indira Gandhi Stadium complex.
This is indication enough to suggest the Sports Ministry may revoke the suspension it imposed on WFI soon after the elections. The Ministry, which is aware that only Antim Panghal has sealed a berth for Paris 2024 when competing as a neutral athlete at the World Championship last year, will not want to jeopardise India’s chances in the Olympic qualifiers at any cost.
All eyes are now on the Sports Ministry. Surely, every sports fan wants to see the best athletes represent the country with pride at Paris 2024. For the record, on Friday, the WFI lawyer sought time from the Delhi High Court till March 4 to file a reply to the writ filed by the wrestlers. The Court’s directive will possibly end the current impasse.
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