NEW DELHI: The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports activities on Tuesday lifted the suspension on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), restoring its recognition as a Nationwide Sports activities Federation (NSF) for the game.
Former WFI president and Bharatiya Janata Celebration (BJP) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh shared his ideas following the revocation of the ban.
Talking to ANI, he mentioned, “WFI and different sports activities unions are impartial unions. Some points got here up, so the federal government banned it. On the path of the Supreme Court docket, an election (for the presidential submit) was held, and Sanjay Singh was elected. Later, the ban was imposed once more. The government has mentioned the difficulty with coaches, gamers, individuals associated to the game, and attorneys, and the ban has now been eliminated because it was harming the game… I believe 99.9% of individuals are pleased with the choice. I hope that the present federation will work truthfully and can convey wrestling again on monitor. The camps have been closed for 26 months…”
In late December 2023, elections have been held and Sanjay Singh was elected as the brand new president of WFI. Nonetheless, the wrestlers protested towards his election, arguing that he was an in depth aide of former president Brij Bhushan.
Simply days after the elections, the Ministry once more suspended the federation after Sanjay Singh introduced the internet hosting of the U-15 and U-20 nationals in Nandini Nagar, Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh. In response, the Indian Olympic Affiliation (IOA) reappointed an ad-hoc committee to supervise the federation’s each day affairs.
The Sports activities Ministry had initially suspended WFI in December 2023, following Sanjay Singh’s announcement of the youth nationwide championships. The choice drew criticism as a result of considerations about procedural lapses and athlete illustration.
Beginning in 2023, the federation had been below intense scrutiny after a number of prime Indian wrestlers — together with Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia — spearheaded protests towards Brij Bhushan Singh, accusing him of sexual harassment.
Amid the controversy, United World Wrestling (UWW) imposed a ban on the WFI in August 2023 for failing to conduct well timed elections, prompting the formation of an ad-hoc committee by the Worldwide Olympic Affiliation (IOA).
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