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New Delhi: The Indian Sports Ministry took a big decision on Sunday. The Sports Ministry has suspended the just-elected Wrestling Federation of India after the new President Sanjay Singh announced the U-15 and U-20 nationals. In an official release, the Sports Ministry said that the announcement for national competitions was hasty and that due process was not followed.
After being elected as the new WFI chief, Sanjay Singh had announced that the Under-15 and Under-20 national championships for wrestling will be held in Nandini Nagar, Gonda (UP) before the end of this year. The ministry cited that the president of the newly elected body – Sanjay Kumar Singh – announced on 21 December that the junior national competitions will begin before the end of this year.
The Sports Ministry has said that the announcement was made in haste and without adequate notice to the wrestlers. The ministry detailed that this was against the rules and at least a 15-day notice was needed so that the wrestlers could prepare.
In a statement the Sports Ministry said,”Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh, newly elected President of Wrestling Federation of India announced on 21.12.2023, the day he was elected as president, that U-15 and U-20 nationals for Wrestling will take place in Nandini Nagar, Gonda (UP) before the end of this year. This announcement is hasty, without giving sufficient notice to wrestlers who are to take part in the said nationals and without following the provisions of the constitution of WFI.”
The statement added, “As per clause 3 (e) of preamble of constitution of WFI, object of the WFI, among others, is to arrange holding of Senior, Junior and Sub Junior National Championships as per UWW Rules at places selected by the Executive Committee. Such decisions are to be taken by Executive Committee, before which agendas are required to be placed for consideration. As per Article XI of the WFI constitution under the Heading ‘Notices and Quorum for Meetings’, minimum notice period for EC meeting is 15 clear days and quorum is of 1/3rd of representatives. Even for Emergency EC meeting, minimum notice period is 7 clear days with quorum requirement of 1/3rd of representatives.”
