The United World Wrestling (UWW) has suspended the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) membership indefinitely. It is done for failing to hold necessary elections. The WFI is the nation’s regulatory organization for wrestling. This suspension serves as a reminder of the numerous scandals that have dogged the federation. It has significantly slowed the election process.
Elections for the WFI, which is in charge of regulating and promoting wrestling in India, were planned for June 2023. However, a number of disagreements and protests have hampered the road to these elections. The federation’s internal strife caused the election date to be repeatedly postponed, infuriating both wrestlers and stakeholders.
These controversies have their origins in the protests of Indian wrestlers and the legal complaints made by various governmental agencies. Insecurity and mistrust were fostered by the wrestlers’ dissatisfaction with how the federation was run. There were also claims of sexual harassment made against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The UWW took notice of the wrestlers’ loud protests and issued suspension threats.
Against this context, the WFI’s governing body eventually set August 12 as the date for elections for 15 positions. Four candidates, including Sanjay Singh from Uttar Pradesh (a personal friend of outgoing head Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh), entered the race for the presidency. Other candidates for the role of general secretary and treasurer included SP Deswal of Uttarakhand and Darshan Lal from the Chandigarh wrestling organization.
However, exclusions tainted the electoral process. Due to disagreements over eligibility, Maharashtra and Tripura both found themselves without representation. The Returning Officer ruled that the claims made by these groups were “ineligible.” Particularly Tripura has remained unaffiliated since 2016, which makes it more difficult for the federation to have inclusive elections.
The WFI urgently needs to address its internal problems and regain its credibility, as evidenced by the UWW’s indefinite suspension. The organization finds itself at a fork in the road while the Indian wrestling community watches on in alarm. For the country to rebuild its status both domestically and internationally, confidence must be rebuilt. Wrestler’s complaints must be addressed, and fair and transparent elections must be held. The WFI’s leadership must now handle this dilemma and put Indian wrestling back on course.