Sports Ministry Suspends Wrestling Body (image @niiravmodi)
The Sports Ministry suspended wrestling Body of the country, Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The move came following several wrestlers came in protest after the body elected its new head.
Newly elected Sanjay Singh and his panel announced plans to organize U-15 and U-20 national without providing any adequate notice for the wrestling body. Sanjay Singh and his supporters, who have close relation with former President of WFI, Brij Bushan Sharan Singh, was elected to lead the wrestling federation on December 21st.
One of the sports ministry officials told PTI, “the new body has not followed the WFI constitution. We have not terminated the Federation but suspended till further order. They just need to follow the due process and the rules”.
In a strongly worded statement, the sports ministry said, “the business of the Federation is being run from the premises controlled by former office bearers…which is also alleged premises wherein sexual harassment of the players have been alleged”.
The statement also noted that the WFI’s announcement on the selection of nationals “is hasty, without giving sufficient notice to wrestlers who are to take part in the said nationals and without following the provisions of the constitution of WFI”.
The appointment of Sanjay Singh as the President of WFI was opposed by wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia. Sakshi Malik announced her retirement form wrestling and Bajrang Punia returned Padma Shri back to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Virender Singh Yadav, who is also known as India’s “Goonga Pahalwan” also returned his Padma Shri back to the Prime Minister and called for stars like Neeraj Chopra and Sachin Tendulkar to weigh in on the protest.
