WFI suspension: Why Indian wrestlers can’t participate in World Championship under tricolour

United World Wrestling, the world governing body for wrestling, has indefinitely suspended membership of the Wrestling Federation of India for failing to hold elections on time. Now, the Indian wrestlers cannot compete at the upcoming world championships. The decision has come as a massive blow to Indian wrestlers. Now, they have to compete as “neutral athletes” at the Olympic-qualifying world championships starting from September 16. They cannot participate in the World Championships under the Indian flag. Worse, if Indian wrestlers reach the top of the podium, the National Anthem will not be played. Sabi Hussain, Special Correspondent with the Times of India, Delhi, says it all started on January 18 when India’s top wrestlers — Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik — sat on protest at Jantar Mantar, Delhi. They were demanding the removal of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, former Wrestling Federation of India president, from the post. The country’s top female wrestlers had levelled serious sexual harassment charges against him. “But the removal did not happen then, and the Sports Ministry merely asked him to step aside. An oversight committee by the Sports Ministry was formed. Later, the Sports ministry directed the Indian Olympic Association to form an ad-hoc committee to run WFI’s day-to-day affairs. Meanwhile, UWW said they needed WFI to conduct elections on time and in May put out a 45-day deadline. But nothing happened because several litigations were filed against WFI by Member State units because of infighting. It delayed the elections and prompted the United World Wrestling to suspend WFI its membership,” he said. The ad-hoc committee itself took its own time to get down to business. In May, the WFI announced an election date without consulting the ad-hoc committee or the Sports Minister. WFI was then directed by the Sports Ministry to cancel the elections. The ad-hoc committee was asked to conduct elections, but the litigations delayed it. This is bad news for India. Two big sports events will be held next month — the Asian Games and the World Championships. Winning a medal in the World Championship will book the country’s place in the Paris Olympics, 2024. “Since World championship will be conducted by the United World Wrestling, Indian wrestlers will have to participate as neutral athletes. They can't represent India. They cannot wear the singlet with ‘India’ printed on it, which is the competition gear. Even if they win a medal there, the National Anthem will not be played. The Indian flag cannot go up. It will have to be UWW's flag. They will be participating under the aegis of the UWW as neutral athletes,” Hussain said. “As far as the Asian Games are concerned, our wrestlers can participate as Indian athletes because the Asian Games are conducted by the Olympic Council of Asia and entries are signed by the Indian Olympic Association,” he clarified. So, what is the way out to get the suspension revoked? “The only way out is to hold the elections as soon as possible,” he said. Audio production: Shantanu Nanoti