Page 3 - Wfi

Grappling with politicians

Govt move to suspend WFI is timely

Belated wisdom: Sena (UBT) mouthpiece jabs Centre over suspension of WFI

In its latest editorial, Saamana invoked the protests by wrestlers, who came out against former WFI president and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexual harassment

I have severed ties with wrestling, says Former WFI chief Brij Bhushan

Bhushan held a press conference later in the day saying, "Sanjay Singh is not my relative. I have withdrawn myself from wrestling affairs of the country."

Centre asks IOA to form panel for running Wrestling Federation of India

Centre asks Indian Olympic Association to form panel to run wrestling body after wrestlers' protest

Done with wrestling: Here's what Brijbhushan said after WFI suspension

Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, the former chief of the WFI, clarified that he was not going to intervene in the matters of wrestling anymore and his sole focus would be on the Loksabha elections 2024

From protest to suspension via elections: Timeline of WFI's drama so far

Following is the timeline of the chain of events up till the suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Sunday by the Sports Ministry. It highlights all the important events dating back from January 18 when the wrestlers began their protest at Jantar Mantar to the suspension of the Sanjay Singh-led WFI panel which was elected on December 21. January 18: Wrestlers begin protest at Jantar Mantar, accuse WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh Sharan of sexual exploitation and intimidation, demand his resignation and dissolution WFI. January 19: CWG champion wrestler and BJP member Babita Phogat meets wrestlers, says she will speak to the government. January 20: Wrestlers write a complaint letter to IOA president PT Usha, demand the formation of an inquiry committee to probe the allegations and appointment of a new committee to run WFI. IOA forms a seven-member committee, including M C Mary Kom and Yogeshwar Dutt, to probe the allegations of sexual harassment. January 21: Wrestle

Yet to see anything in writing: Sakshi Malik on WFI's suspension by govt

Sakshi Malik reacted after Brijbhushan Singh said that he had also retired from wrestling following the sports ministry's suspension of the newly elected WFI

Explained: Here's why the sports ministry suspended WFI office bearers

The sports ministry suspended the newly elected Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Here's why that happened

Sports Ministry suspends WFI-led by Sanjay Singh till further notice

The Sports Ministry on Sunday suspended the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) till further orders after the newly-elected body made a "hasty announcement" of organising the U-15 and U-20 nationals "without giving sufficient notice to wrestlers" to prepare. The WFI elections were held on December 21 with former president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's loyalist, Sanjay Singh, and his panel winning the polls by big margins. "The new body has not followed the WFI constitution. We have not terminated the Federation but suspended till further orders. They just need to follow the due process and the rules," a sports ministry official told PTI. The source further explained the reasons for suspension. "Sanjay Kumar Singh, newly-elected president of WFI announced on 21.12.2023, the day he was elected as president, that U-15 and U-20 nationals for Wrestling will take place in Nandini Nagar, Gonda (UP) before the end of this year. "This announcement is hasty, without giving sufficient notice t

Lochab violated WFI constitution, hindering wrestler's growth: Drashan Lal

Prem Chand Lochab's election to secretary general's post is in violation of WFI's constitution and he is now preventing the growth of wrestling in the country by demanding a postponement of the junior Nationals, said Darshan Lal, who had lost to him in the recent polls, on Saturday. Newly-elected Wrestling Federation of India President Sanjay Singh had on Friday announced that the U15 and U20 Nationals will be held from December 28-30 in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh. However, Lochab said the WFI chief didn't follow the rules while announcing the dates and requested to postpone it. "While the protestors say that we are fighting to save and promote wrestling, on the other hand, as soon as Mr Sanjay Singh, President, of Wrestling Federation of India, issued a circular for organizing the U-20 and U-15 National Wrestling Competition, these protestors again tried to stop wrestling through General Secretary Mr Prem Chand Lochab," said Lal. "In the letter written by Shri Lochab, he requested the .

After Punia, Deaflympics gold winner Virender Singh to return Padma Shri

Deaflympics gold medallist Virender Singh Yadav, better known as Goonga Pehlwan, has now decided to return his Padma Shri to the government, showing solidarity with the country's top wrestlers who have objected to election of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh loyalist Sanjay Singh as WFI president. Throwing his weight behind Olympic bronze medallist grappler Sakshi Malik, who announced her retirement from the sport soon after Sanjay Singh's victory in the recent WFI polls, Virender said he would return the honour as a mark of protest against the election of Brij Bhushan's close aide. Bajrang Punia, one of the prominent faces of the protest against the former WFI chief, had returned his Padma Shri on Friday. "I will also return the Padma Shri for my sister and the country's daughter. Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, I am proud of your daughter and my sister Sakshi Malikkh," Virender wrote on X. He also urged the country's iconic sports personalities such as Sachin Tendulkar

Newly-elected WFI body cancels all decisions taken by ad-hoc panel

The newly-elected body of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Thursday cancelled all the decisions taken by the Bhupender Singh Bajwa-led ad-hoc panel, that had recently changed the Olympic selection criteria and announced hosting of senior National Championship in Jaipur. Hours after winning the WFI polls, 13 of the 15 elected members met at a city hotel here and discussed the way forward. The new Secretary General Prem Chand Lochab and Senior Vice-President Devender Singh Kadian did not attend the meeting. Both are from the Anita Sheoran panel that could win only two of the 15 posts. "The ad-hoc panel had announced that senior nationals will be held in Jaipur in January but this decision has been cancelled. In fact, all the decisions taken by the ad-hoc panel have been cancelled," a WFI source told PTI. "The Olympic selection trial criteria which was announced by the ad-hoc panel does not stand. We will host the U15 and junior Nationals in Gonda from December 28 to 30," ad

WFI elections - India will give befitting reply to tears of wrestlers: Cong

The Congress on Thursday said the country will give a befitting reply to the tears of the wrestlers who sought justice from the BJP government. The opposition party said this after wrestler Sakshi Malik, with tears in her eyes, announced her retirement from wrestling, saying she has lost in the battle for justice for fellow women wrestlers, who she alleged were "harassed" by former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. "These champion wrestlers brought pride to 1.4 billion (140 crore) Indians. Today, we hang our head in shame that they have decided to retire because the perpetrator of sexual violence against them continues to run Indian wrestling through proxies. "During their protest, the Home Minister assured justice but today it appears the BJP has continued to shield the accused MP. India will give a befitting reply to the tears of our wrestlers," All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K C Venugopa

Sakshi Malik quits wrestling as Brijbhushan aide Sanjay elected WFI chief

Olympic medalist and face of the wrestlers' protest against former WFI chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, Sakshi Malik quit wrestling after Sanjay Singh elected the new chief of the wrestling body

Protesting wrestlers won't face vendetta politics: Bhushan after WFI polls

The protesting wrestlers will not face any sort of vendetta politics and they will get the required support from the new federation, outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said on Thursday after the panel backed by him emerged victorious in the keenly-followed elections. Brij Bhushan, who is facing sexual harassment charges from women wrestlers, assured that the new dispensation will work impartially. Rio Olympics medallist Sakshi Malik, though, announced her retirement from the sport, saying she won't compete under the presidency of a man, who is backed by the former WFI boss. Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia are still active and hope to qualify for the 2024 Paris Games. The two wresters also expressed disappointment that Brij Bhushan loyalist Sanjay Singh had become the new WFI chief but did not follow Sakshi in quitting the sport. The three top wrestlers had launched an agitation against Brij Bhushan accusing him of sexually exploiting several women wrestlers, early this ..

Who is Sanjay Singh? Newly elected chief of Wrestling Federation of India

Sanjay Singh, a close aide of Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, won the election of WFI by beating Anita Sheoran with a margin of 42-7 votes

Sanjay Singh, close aide of Brij Bhushan, appointed as WFI president

Singh and his associates said that they had the support of wrestling federations from most states

Harassment case: Brij Bhushan claims contradiction in witnesses' account

Former Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh Saturday urged a Delhi court to discharge him in a sexual harassment case lodged by six female wrestlers, claiming contradictions in the statements of prosecution witnesses. Represented by advocate Rajeev Mohan, the accused also claimed that as per the law, the oversight committee formed to look into the case had to recommend the registration of FIR within seven days. But "since in the matter at hand, no such recommendation has been made , it is safe to assume that the Oversight Committee did not find a prima facie case against accused", he said. The judge, meanwhile, granted exemption from personal appearance for the day to Singh on an application moved by his lawyer. "Since no prima facie case was found out by the Oversight Committee, and since no case was found out, no FIR was registered, and since no FIR was registered, it automatically amounts to exoneration," the counsel told the court. The defen

Sexual harassment allegations false, motivated: ex-WFI chief Singh to court

Former WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh Saturday refuted allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by six women wrestlers, terming them as false and motivated. Singh made the claim through his counsel before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal while starting arguments on whether to frame charges against him in the case. The cousel submitted that one of the complainants in the case was a member of the sexual harrasment committee and she never disclosed the alleged incident of 2012 till April, 2023. She made the allegations as she failed to qualify for the Olympic 2015. Every complaint has a reason behind it. Every allegation is false Almost every complainant changed her statement. Cosmetic and improved statements were given to implicate the accused, the counsel told the court. After hearing part arguments of defence on charges against Singh, the judge adjourned the matter till October 16.

Ex-WFI chief Singh not exonerated in harassment case: Police tells court

Former WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused of sexual harassment of several women wrestlers, was not exonerated by the oversight committee constituted by the government to investigate the allegations against him, Delhi police told a city court on Saturday. The police made the submission before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Harjeet Singh Jaspal during the argument on whether to frame charges against Singh in the case. Singh was not exonerated by the oversight committee. The committee had given the recommendations, not the decision Nowhere has it stated that these allegations are not substantiated or are false, special public prosecutor Atul Srivastava told the court. He urged the court to frame the charges against Singh, saying even a mere gesture can constitute a crime under section 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code. The Delhi police had filed a charge sheet against the six-time MP on J