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New Delhi: On Tuesday, The United World Wrestling (UWW) announced that they have lifted the suspension on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) with immediate effect. It will allow Indian wrestlers to compete under their country’s flag at the next world wrestling event. During WFI suspension, Indian wrestlers had to compete under the flag of United World Wrestling (UWW).
A statement from the body announced,”UWW had placed the WFI under provisional suspension on August 23 last year after the Indian body failed to hold an election in due course. The UWW Disciplinary Chamber decided that it had sufficient grounds to impose the provisional suspension on the body as the situation in the federation prevailed for at least six months.”
After a meeting held on February 9, the UWW Bureau decided to revoke the suspension of WFI under certain stipulations. Among these conditions is the requirement for the WFI to conduct new elections for its Athletes’ Commission, with candidates being either active athletes or retired for a maximum of four years. The UWW had placed the WFI under provisional suspension on August 23 last year after it failed to hold an election in due course. The election was finally held in December with Sanjay Singh becoming the new president.
Three days after coming into power, the sports ministry then suspended the newly-elected panel citing violation of the national sports code while trying to organise junior national championships. The voting process will be exclusively for athletes and must be conducted during trials or senior national championships, with a deadline set for July 1, 2024, for completion.
The statement said,”The WFI must immediately give a written guarantee to the UWW that all wrestlers will be considered for participation in all WFI events, especially the Olympic Games and any other major national and international events, without any discrimination. This non- The discrimination includes three athletes who had protested against the alleged wrongdoings of the former President.” It added that accusing the protests led by Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and since-retired Sakshi Malik.
This development signifies that Indian wrestlers can now represent their nation’s flag at the upcoming UWW event, reversing the previous requirement for them to compete under a UWW flag during the suspension period. The three athletes – namely Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat – who protested against the alleged sexual misconduct by WFI’s former president Brij Bhushan Singh will also have to be considered for selection.
Additionally, with the suspension lifted, should Indian wrestlers secure top positions, the national anthem will rightfully accompany their victories. UWW also said it is in touch with the wrestlers and will maintain communication with them “in the coming days”. Prior to the suspension in August of the previous year, the UWW had issued a stern warning in June, denouncing the treatment and detention of protesting wrestlers, indicating escalating tensions leading to the eventual suspension.
