Hours after star Indian wrestler Sakshee Malikkh questioned the legality of the Senior Wrestling Championship being held by the now suspended Wrestling Federation of India, the sports ministry, yesterday, reiterated that any tournament organised by the body shall be treated as "unsanctioned". The ministry also warned suspended president Sanjay Singh for making "absolutely baseless and mischievous" claims about government recognition to WFI.
Last Saturday, the suspended WFI, in a show of defiance, had announced that around 700 grapplers would participate in the Senior National Championship in Pune from January 29-31.
Olympic bronze medallist Malikkh had alleged that Singh is organising championships and giving out fake certificates. Questioning how a suspended office-bearer can use the federation's funds, she warned that the fake certificates will put the sportspersons' future in jeopardy. She had also appealed to Union Minister Anurag Thakur to intervene in the matter.
भारत सरकार ने बृजभूषण के साथी संजय सिंह की गतिविधियों को सस्पेंड कर दिया था उसके बावजूद संजय सिंह अपनी मनमर्ज़ी चला नेशनल रेसलिंग चैंपियनशिप करवा रहा है और खिलाड़ियों को फ़र्ज़ी सर्टिफिकेट बाँट रहा है जोकि ग़ैर क़ानूनी है. खेल मंत्रालय द्वारा आयोजित रेसलिंग नेशनल चैंपियनशिप जयपुर… pic.twitter.com/Hx6N3awyml
— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) January 30, 2024
In the letter addressed to Singh, the sports ministry said, "...Certain claims are being made by you (Sanjay Singh) pertaining to the recognition of the currently under-suspension Executive Committee of the WFI and about the competitions being held by you at Pune are being made, which are again absolutely baseless and mischievous."
"The Ministry has already vide its letter dated 7.1.2024, addressed to you and copies of which were endorsed to affiliate units of WFI and State Governments/Union Territories, made this entire issue categorically clear.
"It is once again informed that any championships or competitions organized by the suspended Executive Committee members of WFI, will be treated as unsanctioned and unrecognized competitions," the ministry added in the letter.
The national body was suspended on December 24—just three days after it held its polls for violating its own constitution—after it hastily announced the U-15 and U-20 nationals in Gonda, UP, in the last week of December.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has since set up an ad-hoc committee to look into the day-to-day affairs of WFI on the directive of Sports Ministry.
"In light of the above, you are hereby strongly advised to desist from making any further unsubstantiated claims regarding the status of the Wrestling Federation of India. Please be advised that failure to adhere to this caution may compel the Ministry to consider further legal action, including but not limited to legal proceedings for spreading misinformation and unsubstantiated claims and any other relevant charges as per the laws of the country," the ministry said.
The ministry further said that Singh's remarks are "causing confusion and anxiety among the athletes and others concerned with wrestling".
The ad-hoc body, led by Bhupendra Singh Bajwa, had announced a separate senior national championships to be held in Jaipur from February 2-5.
