• Indian Olympic Association forms 3-member ad hoc committee for Wrestlers Federation of India

    Sports
    Indian Olympic Association forms 3-member ad hoc committee for Wrestlers Federation of India
    This committee, which consists of Manjusha Kanwar, MM Somaya, and Bhupendra Singh Bajwa as members, will be in charge of the WFI's many responsibilities and projects.


    Digital Desk: A committee consisting of three members has been established by the Indian Olympic Association for the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

    WFI Suspension: A Brief Overview in 10 Points

    The Indian Olympic Association established an ad hoc committee after the suspension of the WFI, and the Ministry of Sports directed that Bhupendra Singh Bajwa serve as its chairman, Manjusha Kanwar as a member, and MM Somaya as a member.

    This committee, which consists of Manjusha Kanwar, MM Somaya, and Bhupendra Singh Bajwa as members, will be in charge of the WFI's many responsibilities and projects.

    These include choosing players, submitting player names for competitions abroad, planning athletic activities, monitoring bank accounts, and supervising.

    On Sunday, December 24, the Sports Ministry issued a strongly worded statement suspending WFI. The ministry contended that the recently elected board, led by Sanjay Singh, remained influenced by prior officeholders who were removed following claims of sexual harassment.

    Starting in the early months of 2023, there has been instability surrounding WFI. As many well-known wrestlers demonstrated against the then-president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the situation developed.

    Sakshee Malikkh Hits WFI

    Under the term of Brij Bhushan, these athletes revealed several startling incidents of ongoing harassment and intimidation. The WFI board that was in place at the time was suspended by the IOC and the Sports Ministry as a result of these revelations.

    Sanjay Singh was elected as the new president of WFI after the organization waited several months to pick a new head.

    Still, the wrestlers' plight was not alleviated by the new leadership. According to their allegations, Sanjay had a close relationship with Brij Bhushan, the current president. The players claimed that Sanjay was close confidant and business partner of Brij Bhushan.

    In response to Sanjay's appointment, Bajrang Punia left his Padma Shri Award on the Kartavya Path sidewalk in New Delhi, Malikkh resigned in protest against the newly elected WFI board, and Vinesh Phogat vowed to return her Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards in protest.