The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): In a significant move, the Delhi High Court has called for a response from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), and the sports body’s ad-hoc committee regarding a petition filed by renowned wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Satyawrat Kadiyan. The athletes have contested the WFI’s decision to conduct selection trials for the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships 2024 and the Asian Olympic Games Qualifier Wrestling Tournament, as announced in a circular dated February 26.
Justice Sachin Datta has scheduled the next hearing for March 7, seeking a reply from all involved parties by that date. This development comes after the petitioners sought the court’s intervention to prevent the WFI from proceeding with the announced national trials. They argue that the government’s earlier directive on January 7, which restrained WFI from organizing any activities, should render the federation incapable of conducting free and fair trials for international sports events under its current governance.
The wrestlers’ plea emphasizes the need for the WFI to align with the National Sports Development Code, 2011, advocating for the national selection trials for all international events to be overseen and monitored by the court. They highlight concerns over the legality and fairness of the WFI, especially after its elections on December 21, 2023, were followed by an immediate government order that halted the executive committee’s operations and established an ad-hoc committee to manage the federation’s affairs.
The petitioners propose that the ad-hoc committee continue overseeing the WFI or that an administrator, preferably a retired judge from the Supreme Court or a High Court, be appointed to manage the federation. This suggestion aims to ensure a restructured and reconstituted WFI that complies with a proposed roadmap for its operations.
Further, the plea calls out the WFI elections as a violation of the National Sports Code and demands that the federation refrain from making any decisions regarding wrestling in India. The petition underscores the alleged harassment faced by the petitioners and other athletes for standing against the WFI and its officials, accusing them of attempting to silence dissenting voices and undermine the athletes’ future international participation opportunities.
This legal challenge highlights the ongoing conflict between Indian wrestlers and the WFI, bringing to light issues of governance, athlete welfare, and the integrity of sports administration in the country.