The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has withdrawn the Indian wrestling team from the Senior World Championship, scheduled to take place in Tirana, Albania from October 28, 2024. The federation blamed interference from the Sports Ministry and unresolved legal battles for the decision. The championship will feature 12 non-Olympic weight categories, but Indian wrestlers will now miss the chance to participate.
Legal Battles Lead to Chaos in Indian Wrestling
The ongoing conflict between WFI and some top Indian wrestlers over selection trials has caused disruptions. WFI had announced selection trials for both the U-23 World Championship and the Senior World Championship, but these were challenged in court. Wrestlers like Sakshi Malik’s husband, Satyavrat Kadian, filed a petition accusing WFI of contempt of court for conducting the trials.
In response, WFI withdrew the trial announcement, and on October 4, the court decided not to pursue the contempt petition further. However, the situation has left WFI unable to send the Indian team to the championship. WFI reportedly informed the global wrestling body United World Wrestling (UWW) about the situation.
WFI Points Fingers at Sports Ministry Suspension
WFI officials expressed frustration over the suspension imposed by the Sports Ministry. They claimed that the ministry’s order to suspend WFI’s operations had triggered these problems, preventing the federation from functioning smoothly. The Sports Ministry had initially suspended WFI on December 24, 2023, following elections to appoint new officials. An ad-hoc committee, managed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), was temporarily assigned to oversee WFI operations.
Disputes Over Administration and Governance
WFI President Sanjay Singh wrote to UWW, alleging that the Sports Ministry was interfering in WFI’s autonomy. He referred to Article 6.3 of the UWW constitution, which emphasizes that national federations must operate independently, free from political, economic, or governmental interference.
WFI further informed UWW that although the IOA President PT Usha initially supported WFI’s case, the Sports Ministry’s December 2023 letter allowed wrestlers to challenge WFI’s functioning. This interference resulted in the federation facing operational challenges, with the court ordering the ad-hoc committee to continue overseeing WFI activities until the suspension is lifted.
WFI Urges UWW to Take Action
In its complaint to UWW, WFI requested the global body to implement Article 6.3 and raise the issue with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The article specifies that national sports federations must maintain their autonomy, and governments can only oversee how public funds are used.
With the Indian wrestling team missing from the championship, athletes are left disappointed. The absence of participation will also be a blow to India’s preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympics, as wrestlers now lose an important opportunity to compete at the international level.
