The Delhi High Court on Friday reinstated the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) ad hoc committee to oversee the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), granting an interim order on a plea led by prominent wrestlers including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and her husband Satyawart Kadian. The court’s decision comes amid allegations and demands for a thorough investigation into the practices and recent elections within the WFI.
Justice Sachin Datta, overseeing the hearing, expressed openness to the IOA reconstituting the ad hoc committee, reflecting the ongoing concerns regarding the governance of wrestling in India. The petitioners, notable for their public protests last year at Jantar Mantar against the former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, alleged sexual harassment and sought a judicial review of the federation’s elections held in December 2023.
The controversy escalated when Sanjay Singh, a known associate of Brij Bhushan, was elected as the WFI president on December 21, 2023. The elections were immediately contested, leading to the central government’s suspension of the WFI on December 24, citing non-compliance with constitutional provisions in its decision-making processes. This prompted a request for the IOA to step in and manage the federation’s affairs through an ad hoc committee.
Also Read
The world wrestling body, UWW, had briefly lifted the suspension in February, resulting in the IOA dissolving its temporary committee in March. However, the court’s latest ruling puts a pause on the WFI’s activities, emphasizing the need for a transparent and fair management structure in the sport’s national governing body.
