UWW threatens to reimpose ban on WFI if center intervenes
The world governing body for wrestling, the United World Wrestling (UWW), has warned the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) by threatening to reimpose the suspension if the Union Sports Ministry intervenes in the national federation’s functioning through an ad-hoc body.
This news may affect the Indian wrestlers’ chances of competing at the World Olympic Games Qualifiers, the final qualifying event for the Paris Olympics 2024, in Istanbul in May 2024.
In a letter written by the UWW president Nenad Lalovic to the WFI president, Sanjay Singh, on Thursday, the apex body reiterated the Indian federation should stay independent and not get threatened by the Ministry of Sports with the imposition of an ad-hoc committee.
“We have been informed that the WFI is once again threatened by your Ministry of Sports with the imposition of an ad-hoc committee to oversee its affairs,” said a letter from UWW president Nenad Lalovic.
“Besides our lassitude for this additional affair impacting your federation and its members, we would like to reiterate UWW’s determination to uphold the principle of autonomy and independence of its national federations in accordance with the UWW Statutes and the Olympic Charter,” the letter read.
In the letter, the UWW clearly mentioned if the WFI makes a decision to allow a third party to run the daily affairs of the sport, both the national federation and athletes could face temporary suspension.
Furthermore, the ban would apply to the upcoming Olympic Qualifiers, scheduled to take place in May 2024. Moreover, the International Olympic Committee may also take further action.
“In case any decision or order should be made against your federation, and a third party be designated to run the daily affairs of our sport in India in violation of the UWW Statutes, UWW would have no other option than to re-impose a temporary suspension of your federation until further notice, and which, this time, could (sic) maybe include your athletes.”
“This suspension would apply to the final Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament in May, and will certainly attract the attention of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on this matter, who may also consider further action,” the letter stated.
Prominent wrestlers may miss out on Paris Olympics 2024
Notably, in August 2023, the UWW suspended the WFI with immediate effect for not conducting elections. However, the suspension was finally lifted in February 2024.
It’s important to note that the Istanbul qualifier is the final qualifying event for the forthcoming mega event in Paris and if UWW suspends the Indian federation, some crucial wrestlers will not make it to the quadrennial event.
Only four Indian women wrestlers, Vinesh Phogat (50kg), Antim Panghal (53kg), Anshu Malik (57kg), and Reetika (76kg), have secured their spots for the Paris Olympics 2024.
Vinesh Phogat, Anshu Malik, and Reetika clinched their spots for the mega event after their impressive performances in the Asian Olympic Qualifiers. On the other hand, Antim Panghal secured her spot after winning a bronze medal in the World Wrestling Championships 2023.