The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Wednesday formed an ad-hoc committee on December 27 to look after the matters of the suspended Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), which was suspended by the Sports Minitsry just days after the board being elected.
Bhupender Singh Bajwa will be leading the committee as the chairman of the board which also consists of MM Somaya and Manjusha Kanwar.
The Sports Ministry had earlier requested the IOA for the formation of an ad-hoc committee in order to control the daily affairs of the federation.
Indian Olympic Association forms ad hoc committee to supervise WFI’s operations, which include athlete selection, submitting entries for athletes to participate in international events, organizing sports activities, handling bank accounts, managing the website, and other related… pic.twitter.com/GUFnRDHFj2
— ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2023
Ministry had earlier asked the IOA to form the committee in a statement which asked the formation to be “as per the defined role of NSFs in the National Sports Development Code of India-2011, including the selection of athletes, making entries for the participation of sportspersons in international events, holding of sporting activities, etc. with immediate effect, until further orders.”
The Sanjay Singh-led WFI was suspended by the Sports Ministry because of ‘hasty’ decisions taken by the board as soon as they were elected.
Former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharna Singh’s aid Sanjay Singh had won the election in a dominant manner against former CWG medalist Anita Sheoran, a decision which was strongly opposed by wrestler Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat.
These wrestlers also sat in protest earlier this year against Brij Bhushan Singh who was accused of sexual harassment and was often called out for his exploitation of female wrestlers as well. The wrestlers wanted his resignation from the post and was successful in their pursuit. However, the newly elected president also turned out to be a Brij Bhushan loyalist which came to the disappointment of the wrestlers.
When asked to speak on the matter, Brij Bhushan said “Whatever has to be done with regards to wrestling in India, it has to be done by the new elected body. I have nothing to do with the sport now. I have other responsibilities to focus now. I will be away from the politics of this sport.”
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