Sports Ministry Lifts Suspension on WFI, Clearing Path for Wrestling Activities

• Mar 11, 2025

New Delhi: The Sports Ministry has revoked the suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), bringing an end to months of uncertainty and paving the way for the resumption of competitions, including the selection trials for the upcoming Asian Championship in Amman.

The WFI was suspended on December 24, 2023, due to governance lapses and procedural irregularities by its newly elected body, which had assumed office just three days earlier. The ministry had directed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to form an ad-hoc panel to oversee the Federation’s affairs.

Reasons Behind the Suspension

The Sanjay Singh-led WFI faced backlash after announcing the Under-15 and Under-20 National Championships in Nandini Nagar, Gonda, a stronghold of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Given that Brij Bhushan—a former BJP MP—was facing allegations of sexual harassment, the government's disapproval led to the Federation’s suspension.

Further concerns arose when reports surfaced that the WFI was still operating from Brij Bhushan’s residence. In response, the Sports Ministry formed a verification committee that conducted a spot inspection, confirming that the Federation had since moved its office to East Vinod Nagar, New Delhi.

The ministry, satisfied with the corrective measures taken, lifted the suspension in the broader interest of the sport and its athletes. The decision was influenced by concerns that the absence of a functional governing body could impact India’s wrestling prospects at the 2026 Asian Games and the 2028 Olympic Games.

Ministry’s Conditions for WFI

While reinstating the WFI, the Sports Ministry has set several conditions:

• The Federation must maintain a balance of power among its elected office bearers.
• It must ensure no association with suspended or terminated officials.
• The WFI Executive Committee must submit an undertaking within four weeks to comply with these conditions, failing which legal action will be taken.
• The selection of wrestlers for international events must be free, fair, and transparent, following the Sports Code, latest government directives, and UWW (United World Wrestling) regulations.

WFI President Sanjay Singh welcomed the decision, stating, “I thank the government for this step. It will allow us to function smoothly. It was needed for the sake of the sport. The athletes were suffering due to a lack of competitions.”

He also assured compliance with the ministry’s directives. “We have already moved to a new office, and we will soon call an Executive Committee meeting and issue a circular for the selection trials. We have no issues following these instructions.”

Impact of the Suspension on Indian Wrestling

The suspension had disrupted Indian wrestlers’ participation in key international tournaments. Wrestlers missed out on Ranking Series events in Zagreb and Albania, and there was uncertainty over their participation in the World Championships last year. However, after protesting outside the residence of Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, they were allowed to compete.

Following the suspension, wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Satyawart Kadian challenged WFI’s authority in selecting national teams, arguing that a suspended body could not oversee such matters. The court had directed the IOA to restore the ad-hoc panel, but the IOA refused, citing that the UWW (United World Wrestling) only recognized the WFI and would not accept entries from an ad-hoc committee.

The UWW had lifted its suspension on WFI on January 13, 2024, but had also warned the IOA against further interference in the Federation’s governance.

Wrestling Community Reacts

A coach from a leading training center in Haryana welcomed the decision, stating, “We are relieved that the suspension has been lifted. There was complete stagnation, young wrestlers were suffering without tournaments or national camps. This should have been resolved long ago.”

The controversy stemmed from allegations against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik had accused him of sexually harassing junior wrestlers, leading to a prolonged protest at Jantar Mantar. An FIR was lodged, and he is currently facing trial in the case, although he has denied all charges.

Since then, Vinesh Phogat joined the Congress and won the Julana seat in the Haryana state elections last year, while Bajrang Punia was appointed as the chief of All India Kisan Congress (AIKC).

With the Asian Championship scheduled from March 25 in Amman, Jordan, the lifting of WFI’s suspension ensures that Indian wrestlers can now focus on their preparations for upcoming international events.