Former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Narsingh Pancham Yadav was named the chairman of the Wrestling Federation of India’s Athletes’ Commission on April 24. The position was mandated by the United World Wrestling (UWW). The body that governs amateur wrestling worldwide, at the time of revoking the suspension on WFI. A total of eight candidates were in contention for seven positions and after polling seven members were elected and Narsingh was elected as chairman of the commission.
The new president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Sanjay Singh informed about the elections where Yadav was voted the chairman.
"Today, Athlete Commission of India election took place. Eight candidates who files nominations were, Bharti Baghel from Uttar Pradesh, Khushbu S Pawar, from Gujarat, Narsingh Yadav from Maharashtra, Nikki from Haryana, Rajiv Ranjan from Jharkhand, Sahil from Delhi, Smitha from Kerala, and Shweta Dubey from West Bengal," Singh said.
The other elected members of the Athletes Commission were Sahil (Delhi), Smitha AS (Kerala), Bharti Bhaghei (UP), Khushboo S Pawar (Gujarat), Nikki (Haryana), and Sweta Dubey (Bengal).
Who is Narsingh Yadav?
Narsingh Yadav clinched the gold medal in the men’s freestyle 74kg category at the 2010 Common Wealth Games. Ahead of the 2016 Olympics, Narsingh was embroiled in controversy and was banned for four years and barred from the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar missed the 2016 Summer Olympics qualification event due to injury and it was confirmed that Narsingh was going to the 2016 Rio Olympics. However, he was disqualified when he failed two doping tests and was handed a four-year ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
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The formation of the Athletes' Commission was a condition set by the United World Wrestling (UWW) for lifting the suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The motive of this commission is to resolve the grievances of the wrestlers. The decision came amid protests from the top six wrestlers including Olympic Games medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik and Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat. They sat on a protracted protest at the Jantar Mantar last year. They were demanding the arrest of then WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who was accused of sexual assault by women wrestlers.
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