Tag: WFI news

WFI without Sanjay Singh is acceptable to us: Sakshi Malik

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Sakshi Malik on January 3 insisted that she has no issues with the newly-elected Wrestling Federation of India if Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh-loyalist Sanjay Singh is kept away from the body.

Malik had announced her retirement from the sport on December 21 in protest against the election of Sanjay Singh as WFI President.

The 2016 Rio Olympic Games bronze medallist also claimed that her mother has been receiving threat calls from former WFI chief Brij Bhushan’s supporters.

Malik, 31, said they will accept a WFI without Sanjay Singh but ruled out her own involvement in running of the federation.

Also Read | Wrestling Federation of India timeline | From allegations, elections to suspension

“We don’t have any issues with the new federation except one man, Sanjay Singh. We don’t have any issue if the new body comes back without Sanjay Singh. We do not have any issue with the ad-hoc committee as well,” Malik told reporters.

“The government is like parents for us and I would request them to make wrestling safe for the upcoming wrestlers. You have seen how Sanjay Singh has been behaving. I don’t want Sanjay Singh’s interference in the federation,” she added.

“I can only make a request. If the ministry says he won’t come back it will be better. Everybody saw the kind of power abuse by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh after the WFI elections. He announced junior nationals at his home without much deliberation.”

Sanjay Singh had defeated 2010 CWG gold medallist Anita Sheoran by a huge 40-7 margin.

Prem Chand Lochab, who was from the Sheoran panel and had the backing of Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, was elected secretary general.

Sakshi also requested the ad-hoc panel to conduct age group nationals at the earliest.

“I don’t want that any young wrestler suffers because of us. The ad-hoc committee has already announced senior nationals and I request the ad-hoc committee to announce the U15, U17 and U20 nationals.”

Fresh protest erupts in Indian wrestling

Junior wrestlers protest against Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat as their national championship has been withheld at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on January 3, 2024.
| Photo Credit:
Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

Interestingly, hundreds of junior wrestlers assembled at Jantar Mantar to protest against the loss of one crucial year of their careers, a situation for which they blamed top grapplers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat.

Malik then revealed that her family is getting threats.

Also Read | Protesting wrestlers “past their prime, don’t want juniors to progress”, says suspended WFI President Sanjay Singh

“For past two-three days, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s goons have become active. My mother is getting threats through phone calls. People are calling and saying that a case will be registered against someone in my family.

“People on social media are abusing us but they should remember that they have sisters and daughters at their home.” Asked if she would consider becoming a sports administrator, Malik replied in a negative.

“I am disturbed. We just want that junior wrestlers to not suffer. As of now I don’t have it in my mind.

“We are being blamed for junior wrestlers’ loss and that’s incorrect. If women are involved in running of sport, that will be good,” she said.

When informed about junior wrestlers’ protest against them at Jantar Mantar, Malik said, “I have given 18-20 years to wrestling. Only I know what I have gone through in the last few months.”

Loaded in buses, the junior wrestlers arrived from different parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi, catching the police unaware.

Young Indian wrestlers stage protest at Jantar Mantar, demand action

Close to 300 of them came from Arya Samaj Akhara in Chhaprauli, Baghpat while many others came from the Virender Wrestling Academy in Narela. The security personnel struggled to control them as they shouted slogans against Punia, Malik and Phogat.

The protesters were carrying banners that read: ‘UWW save our wrestling from these 3 wrestlers’.

“More than 90% of Akharas (training centres) in U.P. are with us in this protest. There are only three wrestlers on one side and lakhs on the other. They have spoilt the careers of lakhs of wrestlers across the country,” said Muzaffarnagar stadium coach Pradeep Kumar. “These people have no respect for national awards. They are leaving them on the roads,” Mr. Kumar added, referring to Punia and Phogat returning their government honours.

“They kept saying that they were protesting for women and junior wrestlers but they have spoilt careers of lakhs after earning all the laurels. Their protest is only to get top WFI posts. Once that happens, they will stop all protests.” Ironically, almost a year back at the same protest site, the top three wrestlers had managed to draw huge support for their cause when they called for the arrest of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexually harassing women wrestlers.

Thousands of people from different sections of society, including farmers groups, social workers, politicians, women’s groups and members of the wrestling fraternity, came out to support Malik, Phogat and Punia.

The three are now facing protests from within their community with those assembled at Jantar Mantar, accusing them of ruining their careers.

Since January 2023, national camps and competitions have been on hold as the WFI has been suspended twice and an ad-hoc panel is running the sport.

“An entire year for these junior wrestlers has gone waste. The new WFI had taken the decision for the welfare of the wrestlers who had not seen even district or state level competitions, leave aside the nationals,” said Vivek Malik who belongs to the Arya Samaj Akhara.

“But the new body was suspended. This body was elected on the instructions of the court but it wasn’t allowed to work and prove itself even for three days. The suspension should be lifted and the WFI should be allowed to function.

“They had the task of completing the wrestling calender before December 31, so what wrong did they do to warrant the suspension?” he asked.

Those protesting on Wednesday demanded that the suspended WFI be restored after disbanding the ad-hoc panel which has been appointed by the sports ministry.

The protesters also defaced the placards bearing images of Punia, Malik and Phogat before trampling them.

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The Hindu Morning Digest, December 25, 2023

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J&K Police file murder case over death of three civilians in Army custody

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External Affairs Minister Jaishankar to visit Russia

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UK to send naval ship to Guyana amid Venezuela border dispute

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Maharashtra government tries to dissuade Jarange-Patil from staging rally in Mumbai

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Decision to suspend WFI taken under pressure: Opposition leaders

Opposition leaders on Sunday said the government’s decision to suspend the newly-elected WFI was not enough to give justice to protesting wrestlers and questioned why a loyalist of former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was allowed to contest the election to the sports body in the first place. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections were held on December 21 with Sanjay Singh and his panel winning the polls by big margins.

Security is stepped up around Christmas celebrations in Germany and Austria over attack concerns

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Sports Ministry suspends newly-formed Wrestling Federation of India led by Sanjay Singh

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BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh with the newly-elected president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Sanjay Singh at the former’s residence, in New Delhi, Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023.
| Photo Credit: PTI

The Union Sports Ministry has suspended the Wrestling Federation of India body under the leadership of newly elected president Sanjay Singh. The Sports Ministry also asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to constitute an ad-hoc body to control and manage the affairs of WFI.

The Ministry announced its decision in an official release on December 24 citing hasty decisions by the newly elected body and that it has shown complete disregard for the existing rules and regulations.

May explore legal options, says Sanjay Singh

Reacting to the development, Mr. Sanjay Singh said the WFI will seek revocation of its suspension by explaining to the government that it has not flouted any rules while taking decisions and if the issue is not resolved, it may explore legal options.

“We are seeking time from the sports minister and request that the suspension be lifted. If the issue is not resolved through dialogue, we could explore legal options,” Mr. Sanjay Singh told PTI.

“We will explain that we have followed rules in taking decisions. We will present the proofs. Whatever decisions were taken, were taken by consensus. It was not my personal decision. 24 state associations had given affidavits and we have got emails, we have everything in writing,” the sports administrator added.

Sakshi Malik welcomes decision

Meanwhile, Sakshi Malik, one of the prominent faces of the agitation against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, welcomed the WFI’s suspension.

“It is the first step towards something good happening. I hope the government understands more for what cause we were fighting,” said Ms. Malik.

“If a woman federation president is there, it will be better for the safety of women wrestlers. It was a fight for sisters and daughters of the country,” she added.

Bajrang Punia, who had returned his Padma Shri medallion to the government on Friday in protest over the election Mr. Sanjay Singh as WFI President, said he won’t take back his award.

“Now that I have returned it, I am not going to take it back. The honour of our sisters and daughters is bigger than any award. All of you have seen what is happening,” the Tokyo Games bronze medal winner told PTI.

“I will think about taking it back only after justice is delivered. The matter is in court and we are waiting for justice,” he added.

Mr. Punia, Ms. Malik and Vinesh Phogat had accused Mr. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually exploiting women wrestlers during his tenure as WFI president.

Mr. Sanjay Singh announced on December 21 that the U-15 and U-20 nationals would take place in Nandini Nagar, Gonda (U.P.) before the end of this year. Citing the announcement, the Sports Ministry said the announcement was against the the rules and a 15-day notice was required so that players could prepare.

The Ministry has written to the IOA to form the panel at the earliest.

“… Taking note of the compelling current situation arising out of the influence and control of the WFI’s former office bearers, serious concerns have arisen about the governance and integrity of the WFI,” said the letter signed by Tarun Pareek, under secretary to the Government of India.

“This requires for immediate and stringent corrective measures to uphold the principles of good governance in sports organizations, and thus, now it becomes incumbent on part of the IOA to to make suitable arrangements for the interim for managing the affairs of WFI so that sportspersons of wrestling discipline do not suffer in any manner and the principle of good governance in the sports body do not get jeopradised,” he said in the letter addressed to IOA President PT Usha.

‘Haven’t terminated WFI’

“The new body has not followed the WFI constitution. We have not terminated the Federation but suspended till further orders. They just need to follow the due process and the rules,” a Sports Ministry official told PTI.

The source further explained the reasons for suspension.

“Sanjay Kumar Singh, newly-elected president of WFI 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.

“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,” said the Ministry’s source.

Embroiled in controversies

Mr. Sanjay Singh, a loyalist of Mr. Brij Bhushan Singh, swept the polls and was elected president of the body with his panel winning most of the posts on December 21.

Soon after the elections, Ms. Malik, the Rio Olympic bronze medallist, announced her decision to retire from the sport in a dramatic announcement as she kept her shoes on the table. “We wanted a female president but that did not happen,” a teary-eyed Ms. Malik said.

Ahead of the elections, Mr. Punia and Ms. Malik had repeatedly requested Sports Minister Anurag Thakur to stop anyone associated with Mr. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh from contesting the WFI polls.

Mr. Punia on December 22 announced his decision to return his Padma Shri award. “I am returning my Padmashree award to the Prime Minister. This is just my letter to say. This is my statement,” read a post shared by the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist wrestler on X, formerly Twitter.

Deaflympics gold medallist Virender Singh Yadav, better known as Goonga Pehlwan also decided to return his Padma Shri to the government on December 23, showing solidarity with the country’s top wrestlers who have objected to Mr. Singh’s election. “I will also return the Padma Shri for my sister and the country’s daughter. Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, I am proud of your daughter and my sister Sakshi Malikkh,” Virender wrote on X.

(With inputs from PTI)

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