WFI to reserve quotas for upcoming Asian Championships

WFI will send the tentative names of wrestlers in every weight class to seal the quota by 25th February, the last day to send the name of the wrestlers for the continental championships.

Wrestling Federation of India chief Sanjay Singh. (File)

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has decided to safeguard the interest of Indian wrestlers by reserving quotas for the upcoming Asian Championships next month in Amman, Jordan.

WFI will send the tentative names of wrestlers in every weight class to seal the quota by 25th February, the last day to send the name of the wrestlers for the continental championships.

“We have reserved our quota at the Asian Wrestling Championships. We will send wrestlers in all the weight categories. We will send a team for sure and the conversations
are ongoing about sending the team,” WFI president Sanjay Singh told The Indian Express.

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When asked if there will be any trials, Sanjay said, “We will conduct trials if needed but right now, the focus is on reserving the quota.” The Federation can change the entries ten days before the event on medical grounds.

Indian wrestlers have missed two consecutive ranking series due to WFI’s suspension owing to an order by the Delhi High Court. If the Indian wrestlers miss Asian
Championships next month, they will be barred from participating in the World Championships later this year as per the rules of the United World Wrestling (UWW).

As reported by this newspaper last week, WFI claimed that the Sports Ministry hasn’t responded to their request of sending the teams for the Ranking Series. “There has
been no conversation with the Ministry yet,” said Sanjay.

However, a source in the ministry confirmed that they are looking into the matter and are trying to reach are solution before the next hearing date of the case on March 3.