New Delhi1 minute ago
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The Delhi High Court has said that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) can once again constitute an ad-hoc committee to work for the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
The court on Friday was hearing a petition filed by wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat, seeking a stay on the functioning of the WFI and preventing it from carrying out any activity as a national federation for the sport. Justice Sachin Dutta, while giving the verdict on this matter, said that IOA can reconstitute the adhoc committee.
India’s top wrestler had last year at Jantar Mantar demanding the arrest of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on charges of alleged sexual harassment of seven female wrestlers. Earlier this year, these wrestlers had moved the High Court to quash and declare illegal the election of the federation’s office bearers in December.
Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik had filed a petition against WFI.
What is the whole matter?
In March, before the Paris Olympic Games, the IOA dissolved its ad-hoc committee under pressure from the International Olympic Committee. Earlier in February, after the suspension from United World Wrestling was lifted, WFI had complained to UWW that the Adhoc Committee of IOA was not allowing it to work. In such a situation, at the request of UWW, IOC had instructed IOA to dissolve the adhoc committee with immediate effect. Know in a few points what happened when…
- On February 9, 2024, the UWW lifted its suspension from the WFI. After this WFI complained to IOA.
- In January 2024, IOA formed an ad-hoc committee. This committee was looking after the functioning of WFI.
- From December 28, WFI announced to hold Junior National Championship tournament in Gonda, UP even after the suspension.
- On 24 December 2023, the Central Government suspended WFI. IOA was asked to constitute an adhoc committee.
- On 21 December 2023, Brij Bhushan loyalist Sanjay Singh was elected as the new chief of WFI in the elections.
Sanjay Singh was elected the new President
Brij Bhushan loyalist Sanjay Singh was elected the new chief of WFI in the elections held on 21 December 2023. The Center had suspended the WFI on December 24, 2023, three days after the elections, for allegedly not following the provisions of its own constitution while taking decisions. IOA was asked to form an ad-hoc committee to oversee its functioning.
Earlier, UWW had banned the Indian Federation for not holding elections on time in August 2023.
Sanjay Singh hugging Brij Bhushan Singh’s son Prateek Bhushan Singh after winning the election.
Prateek Bhushan Singh, son of former WFI President Brij Bhushan Singh, holding a poster in his hand. It is written in the poster ‘Dabdaba Hai, Dabdaba Rahega.’
Time line of wrestlers’ protest in graphics
