National Wrestling Federation; Sports Ministry issues letter to Indian Olympic Association to set up ad hoc committee

NEW DELHI: The Sports Ministry has written to the Indian Olympic Association asking for the formation of an ad-hoc committee for the administration of the National Wrestling Federation. The letter was sent by Union Minister Anurag Thakur. The central government had suspended the new governing body of the wrestling federation following protests by wrestlers. This is followed by a new proposal.

In a letter sent to the Indian Olympic Association chief, the ministry pointed out that the ad hoc committee should take care to take decisions, including on the issue related to the selection of athletes. There is grave concern over the activities of the Federation due to the influence and control of former office bearers of the Wrestling Federation. The Olympic Association should ensure strict corrective measures to ensure proper governance. The letter also says that wrestlers should not face any kind of difficulties. The ad hoc committee will be responsible for taking decisions on the day-to-day affairs of the Wrestling Federation of India.

The Sports Ministry had earlier suspended the new governing body of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The action comes as sportspersons are intensifying their protest over the election of a close aide of BJP MP Brij Bhushan Saran, who molested seven people including a minor player as the president of the World Football Association. The Sports Ministry's intervention was based on the belief that the newly elected committee was under the complete control of the former incumbents. In a statement, the ministry accused the new governing body headed by Sanjay Singh, a close aide of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, as an example of 'blatant disregard for legal and procedural norms'.

The new governing body was elected last Thursday under the leadership of Sanjay Singh. Alleged sexual assaults against sportspersons are also in the same places. The ministry also pointed out that court proceedings are in progress on the allegations. Sanjay Singh's decision to hold the U-15 and U-20 national championships in Brij Bhushan's hometown of Gonda also irked the ministry. The ministry said the announcement was made in haste without giving adequate notice to the wrestlers who were to participate in the said national competitions and without following the provisions of the constitution of the WFI.