As world body suspends WFI, what does it mean for Indian wrestlers?
WFI has grappled with allegations of sexual harassment against its former head, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, which have significantly contributed to the election delays.. (Photo: PTI)
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has found itself indefinitely suspended from the membership of the United World Wrestling (UWW) due to its failure to conduct the required elections.
Context
The global governing body for wrestling, UWW, has taken the step of suspending WFI due to prolonged delays in holding elections. As a result of this suspension, Indian wrestlers will be unable to participate in the upcoming World Championships under their national flag.
Instead, they will be required to compete as 'neutral athletes' in the Olympic-qualifying World Championships, set to begin on September 16.
The suspension's origins
The suspension of WFI follows the lapse of a 45-day deadline given to the ad-hoc panel, headed by Bhupender Singh Bajwa, for the conduct of elections.
The underlying cause of this suspension can be traced back to a series of issues faced by WFI.
The organisation has grappled with allegations of sexual harassment against its former head, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, which have significantly contributed to the election delays. Moreover, notable Indian wrestlers have engaged in prolonged protests against these allegations, leading to further disruptions.
A detailed perspective
Initially scheduled for June 2023, the elections planned by the Indian wrestling governing body have been repeatedly deferred due to the persistent protests by Indian wrestlers and legal interventions by state units.
In response to this situation, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) established an ad-hoc committee on April 27. The primary objective of this committee was to oversee the election process and ensure its completion within a span of 45 days. Subsequently, the UWW issued a warning on April 28, stating that the failure to meet the stipulated election deadline could potentially result in the suspension of the Indian federation.
Impact on Indian wrestlers
The acting CEO of the Indian Olympic Association, Kalyan Chaubey, has officially confirmed this development. Consequently, despite their impending participation in the forthcoming World Championships, Indian wrestlers will be designated as neutral competitors rather than representing their nation under its flag.
Furthermore, even if Indian wrestlers secure top positions on the victory podium, the playing of the national anthem during their moment of triumph will not take place.
While the World Championship qualifiers were initially slated to occur on August 25-26 in Patiala, the status of this event remains uncertain in light of these recent developments.
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