Sanjay Singh, closely associated with former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, has been elected as the new president of the WFI. The long-awaited elections for the WFI finally took place on Thursday, December 21, in New Delhi, following several postponements earlier in the year. The voting process was conducted in the morning, with the counting of votes commencing immediately afterward.
This election was crucial for the future of Indian wrestling, as it was expected to lead to the lifting of the suspension imposed on the WFI by the global wrestling body, United World Wrestling (UWW). UWW had previously suspended WFI for its failure to conduct elections within the stipulated deadline set in August. As a result, Indian wrestlers had to participate as neutral athletes in international competitions over the last few months.
The WFI elections saw contests for 15 key positions, including the president, treasurer, secretary-general, and senior vice-president. The presidential race was particularly notable, featuring a contest between Anita Sheoran, a former Commonwealth Games Gold medalist, and Sanjay Singh, who served as the vice-president of the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Federation.
Anita Sheoran, hailing from Haryana and representing Odisha, aspired to become the first female president of the national wrestling body. She enjoyed the support of prominent Indian wrestlers like Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Vinesh Phogat. These star athletes had previously protested against the outgoing president, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, over serious allegations including sexual harassment and stalking of female wrestlers.
Sanjay Singh, a key ally of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, pledged to restore the former glory of Indian wrestling, a sport that has seen India achieve multiple Olympic medals in recent years. However, his candidacy faced reservations from prominent wrestlers like Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, who expressed their concerns during a meeting with the Sports Minister Anurag Thakur earlier in the month.
The backdrop to these elections was a series of protests that began on January 18th at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. Wrestlers gathered to publicly accuse Singh of sexual exploitation and intimidation, sparking widespread outcry and demands for a safer environment in the sport. The protesters called for free and fair elections in the WFI, insisting that Singh and his family members should not be involved with the federation. These protests, which continued until June, were eventually called off after the wrestlers were assured of action by the Sports Ministry.
The conclusion of these elections marks a significant moment in Indian wrestling, potentially opening a new chapter in the governance and administration of the sport in the country.
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