Wrestling’s administrative mess leave grapplers high and dry; just practicing not competing enough, say coaches and wrestlers

Indian wrestling is currently caught in an administrative mess because the United World Wrestling recognises the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), but the sports ministry has not lifted its suspension first imposed in December 2023. On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court had pulled up the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) because of its failure to reconstitute an ad-hoc committee for running the WFI. In August last year, the court had said the IOA’s decision to dissolve the ad-hoc committee was not in line with the Union sports ministry’s order suspending the WFI.

The WFI led by Sanjay Singh claims that the paperwork for the Albania series, including the list of the players along with visa requests, was sent to the Sports Ministry well in advance, but there was no response. WFI struck off the names after not hearing back from the ministry.

As per the UWW rules, only the federation can enter names for a competition using an online registration system.

“We didn’t get the approval from the Sports Ministry. We sent all the details via email to the Ministry on January 30. They asked us for some more details, and we sent that on February 3, but we received no response after that. We had time till the (February) 15th or 16th. They could have easily cleared it. Earlier, such requests used to get cleared in one week,” Sanjay Singh told The Indian Express.

It is a common practice for the federations to send a list of athletes representing India for clearance to the sports ministry. The ministry also approves funding for overseas trips based on the lists provided.

Sports ministry sources told this paper that the ministry is aware of the issues of the wrestlers and is working on finding a solution which will benefit wrestlers and won’t create hurdles for them.

Missing two Ranking Series tournaments has its consequences. The Indian wrestlers could turn up undercooked at the Asian championships next month in Amman, Jordan. That is if they get to travel. Ranking points accumulated at the Ranking Series help wrestlers get a higher seeding at the World Championships, hence improving chances of avoiding a top star in the early rounds.

Wrestling coach of the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) Kuldeep Singh said, “Ranking series and such tournaments also serve as the preparatory tournaments for the likes of World Championships and Continental championships.”

The wrestlers who were named in the squad for the Ranking Series in Albania tried to meet sports minister Mandaviya on Saturday but he was unavailable. “We went to meet the sports minister to request him to send the team for the upcoming World ranking series in Tirana, Albania. We were told that he would meet us at noon, but later, we came to know that he was not available,” Shivanee said.

After missing two ranking tournaments in two months wrestlers are an anxious lot.

“There is no certainty about anything. We don’t have any idea what will happen and when. Earlier, wrestlers used to know when they had to prepare for the tournaments and when they had to take a rest. Right now, we don’t know anything,” Paris Olympian Reetika Hooda’s coach, Mandeep, said.

Figuring out the form of a wrestler unless they compete regularly is difficult, Kuldeep added. “There is no point in just practicing. Playing in such tournaments is an important thing for young wrestlers. As coaches also, we can analyze everything in the tournaments — from their mistakes to the level they are at,” the SSCB coach said.

Job prospects could get hit

Shivanee said that lack of regular national championships can also hit wrestlers’ job prospects. “It is causing a lot of harm to the younger kids as they are unable to play in the age group tournaments and are losing crucial time. Due to the lack of national championships, players are also losing out on government jobs,” Shivanee said.

Mandeep believes that the next generation of wrestlers’ will be impacted by the organisational disarray in the sport. “The impact of not participating in such tournaments and lack of competitions will be seen in the future. The next generation is losing out on valuable experience.”

The sports ministry had suspended the newly-elected WFI office bearers, including Singh, because of “blatant disregard for established legal and procedural norms” during the elections. Sanjay’s panel was backed by former WFI president and ex BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was accused of sexual harassment by six women wrestlers in 2023. The sexual harassment trial against Singh is ongoing in a Delhi court and charges against him have been framed.