The wrestling crisis in the country appears to have no end. The world body (UWW) threatening to suspend the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) if there is any “interference by public and political authorities” in the WFI’s internal affairs. Nenad Lalovic, president of United World Wrestling, stated that the organisation exclusively accepts the WFI. It is overseen by President Sanjay Singh. Currently, the Indian team for the UWW ranking series.
Zagreb is seeking approval from the Sports Ministry. The year’s first international tournament, which begins on February 5, carries ranking points for the upcoming world championships. However, with only a few days till the high-profile tournament, wrestlers are experiencing anxiety. A similar situation occurred before the World Championships last year. The Wrestling Federation of India threatened to withdraw the squad due to the Sports Ministry’s ongoing “interference in its autonomy.”
The squad was finally cleared after the wrestlers and their parents met with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who rectified the issue. This is not the first time UWW has made such a threat. Taking a hard stance, Lalovic stated that UWW is simply repeating what has been proved on numerous occasions over the last few years. The UWW’s statement comes as the Delhi High Court reinstated.
Mismanagement and Politics Ruining Indian Wrestling
The mandate of the ad hoc committee was formed to oversee the federation’s affairs. While the Indian Olympic group has declined to reinstall the ad hoc committee. It was dissolved in March last year after UWW lifted the suspension of WFI and accepted the Singh-led group. The Sports Ministry has yet to recognise WFI. WFI continues to encounter legal challenges in holding selection trials and picking national teams
He has contested the Delhi High Court judgement before a two-judge court. Lalovic wrote to Singh on Thursday, that “UWW does not accept any interference by the public and political authorities with the internal affairs of our member federations, except for what concerns the control of the use of public grants to the national federations. This principle of autonomy and independence is provided by article 6.3 of the UWW Constitution as well as the Olympic Charter.”
