WFI chief Sanjay Singh says will seek revocation of wrestling body's suspension

Sanjay Singh (right) is seen standing next to former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh, in New Delhi on Dec 21 (PTI photo)

Sanjay Singh, the newly elected president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), said he would seek the revocation of the wrestling body's suspension by the Union Ministry of Sports.

"We have not flouted rules, we will seek revocation of WFI suspension from government," news agency PTI quoted Singh as saying on December 24, hours after the sports ministry announced the wrestling body's suspension, citing the "hasty announcement" to hold Under-15 and Under-20 trials without giving sufficient notice to wrestlers" to prepare.

The sports ministry subsequently announced that it has asked asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), which is headed by Olympic medallist PT Usha, to create an ad-hoc committee to manage and control the affairs of WFI on an interim basis.

The sports ministry has requested the IOA to temporarily take over the operations of WFI as wrestling sportspersons "should not suffer" and "principles of good governance should not be jeopardised", CNBC TV-18 reported.
Notably, the WFI elections were held on December 21 with former president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s loyalist Sanjay Singh and his panel winning the polls by big margins.

Th wrestling body's suspension comes in the aftermath of Sakshi Malik, one of the country's top female wrestlers and Olympic medallist, announcing her decision to "quit wrestling" to protest against the election of Sanjay Singh as the WFI chief. This was followed by wrestler and Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia "returning" his Padma Shri on December 22 to mark his angst against the election of Brij Bhushan's aide as the WFI chief.

A number of wrestlers, including Punia, Malik, and World Championship medalist Vinesh Phogat have accused Brij Bhushan of sexually harassing female wrestlers during his tenure as the WFI chief. The case is being heard in the Delhi High Court.

The official privy to the sports ministry's WFI suspension order told PTI that the newly elected wrestling body was being allegedly operated from the premises of Brij Bhushan. The WFI "appears to be (in) complete control of former office bearers in complete disregard to the Sports Code".

This is "also the alleged premises wherein sexual harassment of the players have been alleged and (at) present the court in hearing the matter", the source added.

Brij Bhushan, while responding to media queries over the suspension of WFI, said he is "done" with wrestling.

"Whatever has to be done with regards to wrestling in India, it has to be done by the new elected body...I have nothing to do with the sport now. I have other responsibilities to focus now. I will be away from the politics of this sport," he said.

Meanwhile, Opposition leaders said the government's decision to suspend the newly-elected WFI was not enough to give justice to protesting wrestlers and questioned why a loyalist of former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was allowed to contest the election to the sports body in the first place.

''By suspending the committee if BJP-led ministry thinks they are absolving themselves from not helping the women wrestlers, they are mistaken,'' Sharad Pawar-led NCP's national spokesperson Clyde Crasto said on X.

He said the ministry's actions were a ''farce''.

''Medal surrendered by Shakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia has mounted pressure on the Sports Ministry to suspend the recently held WFI election, its welcome but justice has not meted out to the victims,'' Congress leader Udit Raj said in a post on X.

With PTI inputs