The Delhi High Court has prohibited the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) from organising the Senior National Championships. They ruled out the ad-hoc committee formed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). It will continue to manage WFI affairs until the Sports Ministry’s suspension order is lifted. Satyawart Kadian, one of the protesting wrestlers, and Sakshi Malik’s husband filed a court petition to prevent the WFI.
It was done for staging the Senior National Championship in Bengaluru from December 6 to 8. Senior lawyer Rahul Mehra sought an interim injunction. He claimed that the WFI was planning the tournament in breach of the High Court’s ruling. This reinstated the IOA’s ad hoc council to supervise and run the federation. The Karnataka Wrestling Association (KWA), announced a star-studded lineup for the competition on Friday.
This included Olympic Bronze Medalist Aman Sehrawat, Asian Games medalist Deepak Punia, two-time junior world champion Antim Panghal, and U23 world gold Reetika Hooda, among others. The WFI remains suspended by the Sports Ministry, even though the IOA abolished the ad hoc committee in charge of the WFI’s day-to-day operations. Hemant Phalpher claimed that there would be no national rankings or ability to compete in international tournaments based on the results of the event held from December 6-8, 2024.
WFI slammed by Delhi High Court
Is Indian Wrestling leadership in crisis? The court then ordered WFI to provide an affidavit to this effect within a week. A WFI official said it is getting difficult to hold any tournament or select India teams till the time the Sports Ministry lifts its suspension order. “The sports ministry is just sitting quietly. They are neither lifting the suspension nor telling us what to do.”
“If this continues, wrestling will be impacted in a big way. Young wrestlers are already suffering because of this situation.” A crisis was averted last month when the WFI withdrew the Indian squad from the Senior World Championships, citing the Sports Ministry’s ongoing “interference in its autonomy.” The wrestlers approached Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and begged his help.
