On Sunday, the Sports Ministry said that it won’t recognise any wrestling events held by the suspended Wrestling Federation of India. The Ministry added that the suspended federation has no authority to conduct the Senior National Championships or any event associated with wrestling in the nation.
WFI was suspended last month due to the violation of rules, after which the Indian Olympic Association formed a three-member ad hoc panel to manage day to day affairs of the federation. However, Sanjay Singh, who was elected the President of WFI has refused to recognise the suspension of his federation and has also denied acknowledging the newly formed ad hoc panel.
In a letter, the Sports Ministry said, “It has come to the notice of the Ministry that you have issued a Circular bearing No. WFI/Senior National/Maharashtra/2024 dated 06.01.2024 on the letterhead of the Wrestling Federation of India regarding conduct of Senior National Wrestling Championship 2023 at Pune (Maharashtra) from 29–31 January 2024.”
The letter further stated, “As per this Ministry’s order dated 24.12.2023, you have no authority to issue such a Circular or to use the letterhead of the Wrestling Federation of India wherein you claim affiliation of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.”
“You must immediately cease and desist using the letterhead of the Wrestling Federation of India for such prohibited purposes and using the name, logos and insignia of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India in violation of the provisions of the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011(Sports Code) and the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950.” In the strongly-worded letter to Sanjay Singh, the Ministry further said that “any championships or competitions organized by you – the suspended Executive Committee members of the WFI – will be treated as unsanctioned and unrecognized competitions.”
“Certificates of participation and medals won in championships conducted by the WFI will be of no consequence and will not be considered for eligibility under any scheme of the government or appointment to government jobs/to get admission in school and colleges under sports quota, sports awards, etc…
Until further orders, only National Wrestling Championships for various age categories organized under the supervision of the IOA-appointed Ad hoc Committee for Wrestling will be treated as sanctioned and recognized championships for wrestling under the Sports Code and all government benefits will only accrue to the sportspersons participating in such National championships organized by the Ad hoc Committee,” concluded the letter.
On January 3rd, the ad hoc panel in a statement announced they would be conducting the U-15 and U-20 National Wrestling Championships in Gwalior, in February. The panel encouraged younger wrestlers to continue training for the same.
Varun Anand Bhat | The Sportz Planet
