The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has informed the Delhi High Court that it will retract its circular regarding the selection trials for the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships 2024 and Asian Olympic Games Qualifier Wrestling Tournament.
This decision comes after the WFI was placed under suspension by the Centre. The High Court, upon hearing the WFI's counsel, has instructed that the trials proceed according to the circular issued by the ad-hoc committee overseeing the WFI's affairs.
The ad-hoc committee had previously announced the dates for the trials, scheduled for March 10 and 11, to be held at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala, and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) complex in Sonipat.
The Indian Olympic Association formed the ad-hoc committee to manage the WFI's day-to-day operations after the Union Sports Ministry suspended the national wrestling body for not adhering to its own constitution while making decisions.
The Delhi High Court has listed the matter for further hearing on April 26, following a petition filed by wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and her husband Satyawart Kadian.
The petition challenges the legality of the December 2023 elections held by the WFI and seeks to nullify them. The wrestlers allege that the elections violated the Sports Code and urge the court to direct the federation to comply with the National Sports Development Code, 2011.
Sanjay Kumar Singh, an associate of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, was elected as the new president of the WFI during the disputed elections. The petitioners accuse the WFI of various wrongdoings and assert that their protests against the federation's actions have led to harassment and attempts to silence them.
They further claim that the WFI's actions have hindered their chances of participating in international events. The petitioners seek the court's intervention to ensure the continued oversight of the WFI's affairs by the ad-hoc committee or the appointment of a retired Supreme Court judge as an administrator for the wrestling body.
The petition underscores the WFI's history of disregarding directives from the Sports Ministry and the ad-hoc committee, negatively impacting Indian wrestlers' career prospects. The court's decision on this matter will be pivotal in determining the future governance of wrestling in India and safeguarding the interests of its athletes.
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