The Sports Ministry on Sunday stated the suspended Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has no authority to conduct the Senior National Championships and any occasion staged by the physique will likely be thought-about “unsanctioned” and “unrecognised”. Three days after the WFI held its polls final month, the Ministry had suspended the sports activities physique citing a number of violations of guidelines after which the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) shaped a three-member ad-hoc panel to handle the federation’s day-to-day affairs.

However, a defiant Sanjay Singh, President of the suspended WFI, stated that they are going to quickly organise the nationwide championships and insisted that they neither recognise the suspension of the newly-elected physique nor the ad-hoc panel.

“It has come to the notice of the Ministry that you have issued a Circular bearing No. WFI/Senior National/Maharashtra/2024 dated 06.01.2024 on the letterhead of the Wrestling Federation of India regarding conduct of Senior National Wrestling Championship 2023 at Pune (Maharashtra) from 29-31 January 2024,” Ministry stated in a letter.

“As per this Ministry’s order dated 24.12.2023, you have no authority to issue such a Circular or to use the letterhead of the Wrestling Federation of India wherein you claim affiliation of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.

“You should instantly stop and desist utilizing the letterhead of the Wrestling Federation of India for such prohibited functions and utilizing the identify, logos and insignia of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India in violation of the provisions of the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011(Sports Code) and the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950.” In the strongly-worded letter to Sanjay Singh, the Ministry further said that “any championships or competitions organized by you – the suspended Executive Committee members of the WFI – will likely be handled as unsanctioned and unrecognized competitions.

“Certificates of participation and medals won in championships conducted by the WFI will be of no consequence and will not be considered for eligibility under any scheme of the government or appointment to government jobs/to get admission in school and colleges under sports quota, sports awards, etc…

“Until additional orders, solely National Wrestling Championships for numerous age classes organized beneath the supervision of the IOA-appointed Ad hoc Committee for Wrestling will likely be handled as sanctioned and acknowledged championships for wrestling beneath the Sports Code and all authorities advantages will solely accrue to the sportspersons collaborating in such National championships organized by the Ad hoc Committee.” The ad-hoc panel had announced that it will host the senior national championships in Jaipur from February 2-5.

Indian wrestling has witnessed unprecedented power struggle in the last one year. In protest against Sanjay, who is a close aide of sexual harassment accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Bajrang Punia returned his Padma Shri and Vinesh Phogat returned her Arjuna Award and Khel Ratna.

Sakshi Malik had quit wrestling the day Sanjay won the WFI president’s election.

“This may be very constructive transfer by ministry of sports activities , authorities of India. It will likely be nice milestone for all upcoming wrestlers,” said Rohtash Singh, president of Harayana Amatuer Wrestling Association, which is one of the factions of the state federation.

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