WFI withdraws India from World Championships, cites government interference to UWW

In a significant development, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has withdrawn the Indian team from the upcoming World Championships in Tirana, Albania. The senior wrestling event, covering 12 non-Olympic categories, is set to take place from October 28, but India’s participation has been halted due to the ongoing dispute over government interference in the federation’s operations as per the Indian Express.

Government Interference and Legal Disputes

The withdrawal follows a series of legal challenges and disputes involving the WFI and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS). WFI had announced selection trials for the U23 and World Championships, but this was contested by protesting wrestlers who filed a contempt of court petition questioning the legality of the selection process by the suspended federation.

The Delhi High Court had initially decided not to proceed with the contempt petition on October 4, but the conflict has escalated since then. Satyawart Kadian, wrestler and husband of Olympian Sakshi Malik, approached the court, insisting that the WFI should face contempt charges. This move has further complicated the situation, leading to India’s withdrawal from the World Championships.

WFI Response: Ministry’s Suspension Blamed

A WFI source explained the federation’s position, saying to Indian Express, “We won’t be able to send the Indian team for the World Championship now, we have conveyed this to the UWW (United World Wrestling). This is all happening because of the ministry’s suspension. There are no grounds to keep the suspension… It’s just pathetic that wrestlers have to suffer because of a few wrestlers and the ministry is not lifting the suspension.”

The WFI has been suspended since December 24, 2023, following elections to appoint new office-bearers. In a letter to UWW President Nenad Lalovic, WFI President Sanjay Singh wrote, “Unfortunately, the MYAS continues to interfere in the autonomy of the WFI. The MYAS has ordered the WFI to cease and desist from discharging the day-to-day administration of WFI and had directed the Indian Olympic Association (NOC of India) to make an Ad-Hoc Committee for governance of WFI.”

Legal Complications and IOA’s Role

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA), led by PT Usha, had disbanded the ad-hoc panel managing the WFI in March 2024, after the UWW lifted its own suspension of the federation. However, wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and her husband Satyawart Kadian filed a plea in court to appoint an administrator to oversee the WFI’s operations.

The court, in an interim order, stated that the IOA’s decision to dissolve the ad-hoc committee was incompatible with the ministry’s suspension order, further complicating the situation. The court ruled that the ad-hoc committee should continue managing the WFI’s affairs until the suspension order is recalled. Despite this, the IOA maintained that it could not reconstitute the panel.

WFI appeals to UWW and IOC

In its letter to UWW, the WFI urged the world governing body to invoke Article 6.3 of its regulations, which stresses that affiliated members must preserve their autonomy without external interference. The WFI also asked UWW to treat its letter as a formal complaint to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), raising concerns over the ongoing interference by government bodies.

WFI President Sanjay Singh pointed out that the federation had the support of the PT Usha-led IOA, but it was the ministry’s suspension order that had created hurdles in the administration of the WFI.

Impact on Athletes

The ongoing issues have caused a significant disruption for Indian wrestlers, who now miss a crucial opportunity to compete at the World Championships. Athletes such as Udit (61kg), Kirti (55kg), and Bipasha (72kg), who were set to represent India, are among those affected by the withdrawal.

As the situation unfolds, the WFI hopes for a resolution that would allow the federation to resume normal operations and safeguard the interests of Indian wrestlers on the global stage.

Indian Teams

Men’s freestyle: Udit (61kg), Manish Goswami (70kg), Parvinder Singh (79kg), Sandeep Mann (92kg).

Greco-Roman: Sanjeev (55kg), Chetan (63kg), Ankit Gulia (72kg), Rohit Dahiya (82kg).

Women: Kirti (55kg), Mansi (59kg), Manisha (65kg), Bipasha (72kg).