Sports Ministry Suspends Newly Formed Wrestling Federation of India

The Sports Ministry of India has suspended the newly formed WFI body led by Sanjay Singh.

On account of transparency and other issues, the action has been taken.

The action takes place right after the newly elected Wrestling Federation of India’s President Sanjay Singh announced that the U-15 and U-20 Nationals would take place in Gonda.

The WFI elections were held on December 21 with former president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s loyalist, Sanjay Singh, and his panel winning the polls by big margins.

“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 stated.

The alleged reasons for Sanjay Singh’s suspension were also explained.

“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.

Sanjay Singh’s rise to power

Sanjay Singh on Thursday became the new President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) with his panel comfortably winning most of the posts in the delayed polls as outgoing chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh gained indirect control over the sports body.

Sanjay, who was the UP Wrestling Association Vice President, secured 40 votes as he dominated the polls over his rival Anita Sheoran, who could secure only a mere seven votes.

READ: Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh Loyalist Sanjay Singh Becomes New WFI President

The outcome of the polls were a source of major disappointment for wrestlers such as the likes of Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik as the feeling that their protest against Brij Bhushan has come to naught as they could not get the fraternity behind them despite aggressively pushing for a change of guard, as now a close associate of the BJP MP is at the helm again.

Former WFI President Brij Bhushan Singh was accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers, including juniors. The aforementioned wrestlers managed to mobilise huge support from different sections of society to fight back against him attaining power in the WFI but the protest fizzled out the day they planned a march towards new Parliament building on May 28 when Delhi police removed all the protesters from Jantar Mantar for rioting.

Anurag Thakur assured them that none of the family members or close associates of Brij Bhushan will be allowed to enter the WFI election fray. But alas, that does not seem to have been the case.

Brij Bhushan Singh’s Retort After Victory

Shortly after his close aid, Sanjay Singh, won the elections, former chief Brij Bhushan proclaimed, “dabdaba tha, dabdaba rahega (dominance was there before and it will continue now).”

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said that this was not his “personal victory but the victory of the wrestlers of the country”.

Meanwhile, after winning the elections, Sanjay Singh said that the result of the federation’s presidential polls is a victory of truth over lies. Referring to Brij Bhushan, he said an attempt was made to harm the reputation of a person who actually had a spotless personality, NDTV said.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, while talking to the press after his aide Sanjay Singh’s win, said that he did not let anyone from his family contest the WFI elections. “The federation selected a candidate and I had said this before that we have huge majority, and that’s exactly how it turned out as we got 40 out of 47 seats.”

Meanwhile, addressing a press conference after the declaration of Sanjay Singh’s victory in the presidential polls, wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat broke down and said that they will continue their fight. Sakshi Malik, on live television, said that she would give up wrestling.

Wrestler’s Response to Sanjay Singh’s appointment

Wrestler Bajrang Punia said, “Union sports minister had said on record that no one associated with Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will be allowed to fight the election. The person who won the elections of WFI is an aide of Brij Bhushan. I suspect that they will now save him from the case as well but I have faith in our courts and hope he will be punished by law.”

Wrestler Sakshi Malik also expressed dismay saying that the promises made by the government have not been fulfilled.

“We have made demands for a woman president. If the president would be a woman, harassment would not happen. But, there was no participation of women earlier and today you can see the list, not even a single woman was given a position. We had fought with complete strength but this fight will continue. The wrestlers of the new generation have to fight,” she said.

Malik also added that she will not play the sport anymore.

“If Brij Bhushan Singh’s business partner and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, I quit wrestling,” she said.

And that is exactly what transpired.

Sakshi Malik’s Retirement from Wrestling

Sakshi took the massive decision to call it quits from wrestling once and afor all after Sanjay Singh’s victory in the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) presidential elections.

Sakshi removed her shoes and put them on the dais before leaving the press conference in tears.

“I am dejected and I will not be competing in wrestling anymore,” an emotional Sakshi said.

She then thanked the people who came in their support during the protest but decided to quit wrestling.

“We slept for 40 days on the roads and a lot of people from several parts of the country came to support us. If Brij Bhushan Singh’s business partner and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, I quit wrestling…” she added.

“We wanted a female president but that did not happen,” the 31-year-old, who is also a CWG gold medallist, added.

Bajrang and Vinesh Phogat, who addressed media after elections, did not say whether they will retire from the sport.

“It’s unfortunate that government did not stand by its word that no Brij Bhushan loyalist will contest WFI election,” Bajrang said.

“Upcoming women wrestlers will also face exploitation,” Vinesh added.

Commenting on Sakshi Malik’s decision about quitting wrestling, former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh told ANI that he has nothing to do with it.

Bajrang Punia Rescinds His Padma Shri In Protest

Olympic-medalist grappler Bajrang Punia has decided to return his Padma Shri award to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Sanjay Singh became the new WFI President.

Bajrang posted a note on social media to the Prime Minister and announced his big decision.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bajrang wrote: “Dear PM Ji, hope your health is well. You must be busy in many work but I am writing this to draw your attention to the wrestlers of the country.

“You must be aware that the women wrestlers of the country started a protest in January this year against Brij Bhushan Singh accusing him of sexual harassment. I too joined their protest. The protest stopped after the government promised strong action.”

Expressing his disappointment, the star wrestler added, “But there was no FIR against Brij Bhushan even after three months. We again took to the streets in April so that the police at least file an FIR against him.

“There were 19 complainants in January but the number came down to 7 by April. This means Brij Bhushan exerted his influence on 12 women wrestlers.”

The ace grappler was conferred with the Padma Shri honour in 2019.

(with inputs from agencies)