After the suspension of the newly elected panel members of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) by the Sports Ministry, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has established an ad hoc committee to oversee the affairs of the body. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) stated that the appointment of the new ad hoc committee is aimed at ensuring fair play, accountability, and transparency.
Bhupinder Singh Bajwa will lead the committee, with MM Somaya and Manjusha Kanwar serving as members. This decision follows the conclusion of the anticipated WFI elections on December 21st.
“The Indian Olympic Association has recently become aware that the recently appointed President and officials of the WFI have made arbitrary decisions in violation of their own constitutional provisions and against the principles of good governance espoused by the IOC and further without following due process overturned the rulings of the IOA appointed ad hoc committee,” read the letter from IOC chief PT Usha.
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Prior to the elections, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) was under the administration of an ad-hoc body established by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) following the voluntary step aside of former president Brij Bhushan. Bhupender Singh Bajwa, concurrently serving as the president of the Wushu Federation of India, led the ad-hoc body during that period.
The panel led by Sanjay Singh, perceived as a close associate of former Wrestling Federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, faced suspension on Sunday, with hasty decision-making cited as a primary reason. However, the appointment sparked a series of protests from wrestlers, including Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, who even returned his Padma Shri award.
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