Page 4 - Wrestling Federation Of India

IOA forms ad hoc committee to run wrestling in India after WFI's suspension

The WFI was suspended by the sports ministry after its controversial decision to announce U-15 and U-20 national championships in tainted former chief Brijbhushana Sharan Singh's constituency Gonda

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat to return Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award in protest

Vinesh Phogat took to X where she uploaded an open letter to the PM Modi, saying that she will return national awards won by her, including the Khel Ratna

Grappling with politicians

Govt move to suspend WFI is timely

WFI not suspended, Centre spreading false news, alleges Priyanka Gandhi

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the Centre on Monday of spreading "false news" about dissolving the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and alleged that its activities have been stopped to spread confusion and shelter a BJP MP who has been accused of sexual harassment by female wrestlers. She also alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) always protects the accused with all its might and tortures the victims whenever incidents of atrocities on women come to light. "The BJP is spreading false news about dissolving the wrestling federation. The federation has not been dissolved, its activities have been stopped so that the accused can be saved by spreading confusion. Do they have to stoop to this level to suppress the voice of aggrieved women?" the Congress general secretary asked in a post in Hindi on X. "The well-known players who made the country proud accused a BJP MP of sexual harassment and the government stood with the accused. The victims were tortured and t

Posters about Brij Bhushan's 'dabdaba' removed in UP's Gonda post WFI row

Posters and hoardings declaring the "dominance" of BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh put up here after his aide won the Wrestling Federation of India chief polls have been removed after the Centre suspended the newly-elected sports body. Singh, who helmed the WFI for multiple terms, had boasted about his "dabdaba" (dominance) which he had asserted will continue as his confidant Sanjay Singh won the WFI polls. He was accused of sexual harassment by some female wrestlers. Posters and hoardings reading "dabdaba toh hai dabdaba toh rahega (there is his dominance, there will be his dominance" were put up outside the MP's house here and at other places in the town after Sanjay Singh's victory in the polls. His supporters also pasted pamphlets carrying the same message on their vehicles. All these posters and hoardings have now been taken down now as the Sports Ministry announced the suspension of the WFI for alleged violation of procedures, and a day after Brij Bhushan announced his ...

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

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Why was Brij Bhushan's aide allowed to contest: Opposition on WFI row

Opposition leaders on Sunday said the government's decision to suspend the newly-elected WFI was not enough to give justice to protesting wrestlers and questioned why a loyalist of former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was allowed to contest the election to the sports body in the first place. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections were held on December 21 with Sanjay Singh and his panel winning the polls by big margins. The sports ministry on Sunday suspended the WFI till further notice after the wrestling body made a "hasty announcement" of organising the U-15 and U-20 nationals "without following due procedure and not giving sufficient notice to wrestlers" for preparations. "By suspending the committee if BJP-led ministry thinks they are absolving themselves from not helping the women wrestlers, they are mistaken," Sharad Pawar-led NCP's national spokesperson Clyde Crasto said on X. He said the ministry's actions were a "farce". "Medal surrendered by Shakshi

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

Brij Bhushan, aide Sanjay Singh react on govt's crackdown on WFI amid row

In light of protests by star grapplers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, the Union Ministry for Sports and Youth Affairs, on Sunday suspended the federation along with all its office-bearers

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

Whoever elected as WFI chief, job of athletes' to practice: BJP MP Bidhuri

Former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's aide Sanjay Singh was elected as the new president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI)

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

Bajrang Punia to return Padma Shri in protest over WFI poll outcome

On Thursday, Sanjay Singh was elected as the president of the WFI after the panel led by the close aide of Brij Bhushan won 13 of the 15 posts

WFI poll row: Bajrang Punia leaves Padma Shri on Kartavya Path pavement

This comes a day after Sakshi Malik broke down at a press conference and announced that she was quitting wrestling after Brij Bhushan Singh's close aide Sanjay Singh won WFI poll on Thursday

It's Bajrang's personal decision to return Padma Shri: Sports Ministry

The Sports Ministry on Friday said Bajrang Punia's decision to return his Padma Shri award in protest against Sanjay Singh's election as Wrestling Federation of India president is a personal one but it will still try to convince him to rethink the move. Olympic medallist grappler Bajrang decided to return the honour a day after Sanjay, a Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh loyalist, was elected to the top post at WFI. On Thursday, Sanjay was elected as the president of the WFI after the panel led by the close aide of Brij Bhushan won 13 of the 15 posts. Sakshi Malik, Bajrang and Vinesh Phogat addressed a press conference after Sanjay's election in which Sakshi, a bronze medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, announced that she would quit the sport as a mark of protest. But ministry sources said the WFI elections were conducted in a free and transparent manner. "It is Bajrang Punia's personal decision to return Padma Shri. The WFI elections were held in fair and democratic manner," a ministry .