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A defiant Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has come forward to challenge its suspension by the Sports Ministry in the court next week. Moreover, the suspended WFI has also called for an Executive Committee meeting on January 16 to discuss the things ahead.
This comes after the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) appointed a three-member ad-hoc committee to see the working of the wrestling body after the Indian Sports Ministry suspended the newly elected Sanjay Singh-led WFI. The suspension came citing violation of the National Sports Code and the WFI constitution.
However, the suspended WFI has abide by the decisions of the Sports Ministry and the IOA, WFI Chief Sanjay Singh told PTI, “We need a properly functioning Federation. We are taking the matter to the court next week. This suspension is not acceptable to us because we were elected democratically. We have also called the Executive Committee meeting on January 16.”
“You have seen how the team for the Zagreb Open was announced. Five weight categories will go unrepresented. This will happen in the absence of a proper Federation. If certain wrestlers were unavailable in their respective categories, then why were their replacements not sought?” Singh said speaking of how the ad-hoc panel was not sufficient to announce the team in crunch time.
Singh further added that he has been receiving calls from wrestlers who thought they would get a call for the first ranking series, if given a fair chance to prove through trails.
Speaking of the Executive Committee meeting, a source close to WFI revealed that the notice for the committee meeting was issued on December 31. The body aims to “explain define and interpret certain provision of the constitution.” The viral circular also mentioned that the President “shall be chief officer of the WFI. He shall be empowered to call meetings of the council and executive, if he deems proper.”
