Alleging that the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) elections have been held in violation of the sports activities code, protesting wrestlers together with Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat have filed an pressing petition within the Delhi Excessive Courtroom with a plea to put aside the ballot outcomes and de-recognise the federation, it’s learnt.
This growth comes days after the WFI issued a round stating that it could conduct nationwide trials for Olympic qualifiers and invited the protesting wrestlers to take part within the trials.
The pressing plea additionally mentions that with out the courtroom intervening, the trial carried out by the WFI gained’t be free or honest and would have an effect on the careers of wrestlers, a supply stated.
The WFI, in a round, had introduced that it could conduct trials on March 10-11 — the identical dates because the trials introduced by the Indian Olympic Affiliation-appointed ad-hoc committee. The WFI introduced that the trials can be carried out on the IG Stadium in New Delhi. The ad-hoc committee has additionally scheduled trials — for the boys in Patiala and for girls in Sonipat.
In response to sources, the pressing petition additionally mentions that the sports activities ministry, regardless of suspending the elected physique of the WFI, has allowed the WFI to make use of amenities (IG Stadium) owned by it for trials.
The pressing petition additionally questions how the suspended WFI obtained permission for conducting trials at a venue which belongs to the Sports activities Authority of India/sports activities ministry.
The sports activities ministry had suspended the elected physique of the WFI three days after its polls on December 21 for ‘blatant disregard for established authorized and procedural norms’.
Sanjay Singh, a detailed aide of former president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a BJP MP, was elected president of the WFI. A few of the nation’s high wrestlers had protested demanding Brij Bhushan’s arrest after six ladies wrestlers filed a grievance in opposition to him alleging sexual harassment.
The sports activities ministry additionally directed the Indian Olympic Affiliation to arrange an ad-hoc committee to run the day-to-day affairs of the WFI.
The United World Wrestling (UWW) had suspended the WFI for six months due to a delay in conducting elections. Nevertheless, earlier this month, the UWW had lifted its provisional suspension of the WFI, which meant Sanjay Singh was again as president. On the similar time, the sports activities ministry has remained silent submit UWW lifting the suspension imposed on the WFI.
The petition additionally alleges that the sports activities ministry has turned a blind eye to the WFI not being in conformity with the sports activities code.
In response to sources, the pressing petition mentions that the elected physique of the WFI contains members who’ve been in energy of their state wrestling items for greater than 12 years or three phrases and haven’t undergone any cooling-off interval. The petition provides that a few of those that are a part of the chief committee of the WFI are older than 70 years and that there isn’t a correct Athletes’ Fee within the WFI or the state items.
It’s learnt that the pressing petition within the excessive courtroom additionally requires the ad-hoc committee to proceed to run the day-to-day affairs of the WFI or appoint an administrator to run the federation. The petition has additionally appealed to the courtroom to direct the WFI office-bearers to not be in communication with UWW with out getting clearance from the ad-hoc committee. In response to sources, the pressing petition additionally calls on the courtroom to situation an order to cease the WFI from taking any choice opposite to these of the sports activities ministry or the ad-hoc committee.
The pressing petition additionally highlights the truth that the suspended WFI carried out a separate nationwide championships although they have been conscious that the ad-hoc committee had introduced dates for his or her occasion.