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WFI withdraws India from World Championship citing Government interference

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has withdrawn the Indian wrestling team from the upcoming Senior World Championship, scheduled to be held in Tirana, Albania from October 28, 2024. The championship features 12 non-Olympic categories, and the decision to pull out has been attributed to ongoing conflicts between the WFI and the Sports Ministry over issues of autonomy.

This development comes after the WFI informed United World Wrestling (UWW), the global governing body, about interference from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) in the federation’s operations.

In a letter to UWW President Nenad Lalovic, WFI President Sanjay Singh highlighted the Ministry’s continued involvement in the federation's affairs, dating back to December 2023, when the MYAS suspended the WFI’s activities after elections for new office-bearers were conducted.

The WFI had recently announced selection trials for the U23 and World Championship teams. However, these trials were challenged by protesting wrestlers, including Satyawart Kadian, the husband of Olympic bronze medalist Sakshi Malik. Kadian filed a petition in court, arguing that the WFI’s selection process violated court orders.

On October 4, 2024, the court chose not to proceed with the contempt petition, but the WFI withdrew the notice for the trials, rendering the Indian team unable to participate in the World Championship.

“Satyawart Kadian, the husband of Sakshi Malik, approached the court recently saying that the WFI should be charged with contempt of court. We won’t be able to send the Indian team for the World Championship now, we have conveyed this to the UWW,” a WFI source was quoted as saying by PTI.
“This is all happening because of the ministry’s suspension. There are no grounds to keep the suspension. If the ministry lifts the suspension, all these issues won’t crop up. It’s just pathetic that wrestlers have to suffer because of a few wrestlers and the ministry is not lifting the suspension," the source further said.

WFI's suspension by Sports Ministry and IOA conflicts

The WFI’s suspension by the Sports Ministry has been in place since December 24, 2023, when the ministry directed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to form an ad-hoc committee to oversee the federation.

While the IOA had initially complied, it disbanded the ad-hoc panel in March 2024 after UWW lifted the ban on the WFI in February. However, the ministry’s continued intervention has left the federation in a difficult position, with athletes bearing the brunt of the administrative tussle.

Despite support from IOA President PT Usha, the WFI maintains that the ministry’s interference is the root cause of the current crisis. Sanjay Singh’s letter to UWW emphasized that the wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Satyawart Kadian had filed a plea in court seeking the appointment of an administrator to manage the WFI.

The WFI has requested that UWW invoke Article 6.3 of its regulations and take suitable action. Additionally, it has asked for this communication to be treated as a formal complaint to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The WFI’s inability to participate in the World Championship is a significant blow to Indian wrestling, with top athletes missing out on crucial competition due to ongoing internal conflicts between the federation and the government.

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