New Delhi: A group of prominent wrestlers, including Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, along with World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat, have taken legal action against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Alleging serious violations of the sports code during the recent WFI elections, they have filed an urgent petition in the Delhi High Court.
According to The Indian Express, the petition is learnt to have urged the court to nullify the election results and strip the federation of its recognition. This move follows closely on the heels of a circular issued by the WFI, signaling its intention to hold national trials for Olympic qualifiers. The protesting wrestlers have been invited to participate in these trials, but they remain skeptical about the fairness of the process.
According to sources close to the matter, the urgent petition raises concerns that without court intervention, the trials conducted by the WFI may not be impartial, potentially jeopardizing the careers of wrestlers. Notably, the WFI scheduled its trials for March 10-11, coinciding with trials announced by an ad-hoc committee appointed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
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The newspaper added that the petition also questions how the suspended WFI managed to obtain permission to conduct trials at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi, which is owned by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the sports ministry. The ministry had suspended the elected body of the WFI just three days after its December 21 polls, citing “blatant disregard for established legal and procedural norms.”
Sanjay Singh, a close associate of former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is also a BJP MP, was elected president of the WFI in the controversial elections. The suspension came amidst protests by top wrestlers following allegations of sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan.
Despite the suspension, the United World Wrestling (UWW) recently lifted its provisional suspension of the WFI, reinstating Sanjay Singh as president. However, the sports ministry has faced criticism for its silence on the matter. The urgent petition further accuses the ministry of ignoring the WFI’s non-compliance with the sports code, citing concerns over the tenure of executive committee members and the absence of a proper Athletes’ Commission.
This legal battle between wrestlers and the WFI underscores the deep-rooted issues within Indian wrestling administration and raises questions about transparency and fairness in sports governance. As the petition unfolds in court, the future of wrestling in India hangs in the balance, with athletes and officials eagerly awaiting the verdict.
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