Recent events have cast a shadow over the wrestling community in India. Following the suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) by the global body, United World Wrestling (UWW), owing to delays in holding the necessary elections, there has been a raging storm of accusations and counter-accusations. Central to this controversy are outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and India's celebrated wrestler Vinesh Phogat.
The context of this drama is that WFI elections were initially scheduled for August 12. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court put the polls on hold, responding to a petition filed by the Haryana Wrestling Association (HWA). This delay in the election process prompted the UWW to suspend WFI. The repercussions of this suspension are severe: Indian wrestlers won't be permitted to participate under their national flag in the upcoming World Championship.
Vinesh Phogat, a double world championship medallist, took a stand against the delay and the ensuing suspension. Having spearheaded a month-long protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan over sexual harassment allegations, Vinesh voiced her concerns on 'X', the platform previously known as Twitter. Her words resonated with many: "If one makes a correct assessment of the loss of reputation of the WFI due to Brij Bhushan, he will be completely exposed. The national tri-colour has been shamed by a mafia," she expressed passionately.
In the midst of these events, Brij Bhushan didn't remain silent. The outgoing chief launched a fierce retaliation, placing the blame squarely on the shoulders of protesters, specifically naming Vinesh, along with Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia. According to him, these 'dharna jeevi' (protesting) players are directly responsible for the federation's current suspended status. "They are the ones who made a mockery of wrestling and the country's wrestlers," he pointed out during a media briefing.
Brij Bhushan went on to elaborate on the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the severe consequences of the UWW ban. Without a resolution, Indian wrestlers risk missing out on participating in significant global events, including the prestigious Olympics, under the Indian banner. He also claimed interference by the Haryana federation in the election proceedings and cited his repeated yet thwarted attempts to conduct the elections.
Vinesh, however, was unyielding in her stance. Responding to Brij Bhushan's comments, she asserted on 'X' that the outgoing chief was still very much in control of the federation, manipulating events from behind the scenes. Her concerns reflected the sentiment of many: "The man who has sexually harassed women wrestlers wants control of the federation. If an upright individual replaces him as WFI chief, then all his misdeeds will be revealed," she boldly stated.
This controversy underscores the challenges and politics overshadowing the sport of wrestling in India. With accusations flying from both sides and the future of Indian wrestling at stake, the wrestling community awaits a resolution, hoping the sport can move forward untarnished.
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(With inputs from PTI, powered by AI)
