The suspension on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) was revoked by the Sports Ministry of the country on Tuesday. The body will now be able to conduct domestic tournaments and select national teams for international events.
The ministry has also tasked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) with the formation of an ad-hoc committee to run the day-to-day affairs of the national sport federation.
The WFI was suspended on December 24, 2023, over the decision to host the Under-15 (U-15) and Under-20 (U-20) National Championships.
Indian Wrestling Gets A Breather
In its order, the ministry said that the WFI had taken course correction measures, so it decided to lift the suspension.
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“In view of the findings of the Spot Verification Committee, the compliance measures undertaken by the WFI, and in the larger interest of Indian sports and athletes, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports hereby revokes the suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) issued vide order of even number dated 24.12.2023 and restores its recognition as the National Sports Federation (NSF) for wrestling with immediate effect with following directions,” read the letter from the Ministry.
A panel led by WFI President Sanjay Singh won the elections on December 21, 2023, but the government expressed objection to the choice of venue for the National Championships in Nandini Nagar, Gonda.
Meanwhile, the Wrestling Federation of India has announced the date for the selection trials ahead of the crucial Asian Championships.The trials are scheduled to take place on March 15 at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
The Asian Championships are set to get underway on March 25 in Amman, Jordan.
Recently, the WFI also organised the Federation Cup in Phagwara, where top three podium finishers from each category qualified for the upcoming trials.
Additionally, winners from various categories in the recently held National Championships will also participate in the trials.
Indian wrestlers have already missed two crucial ranking tournaments this season– the Zagreb Open and the Muhamet Malo — due to delays in receiving clearance from the Sports Ministry. The removal of the suspension on WFI heralds a new beginning for Indian wrestling.
