Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, other wrestlers move Delhi High Court against WFI circular for Olympic trials

Wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Satywart Kadian have moved the Delhi High Court challenging an invitation extended by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) calling wrestlers to participate in selection trials for the Asian Olympic Qualifiers and the World Olympic Qualifiers [Bajrang Punia & Ors v Union of India & Ors]..The petition filed by the wrestlers is likely to be heard by the High Court next week. .Notably, these wrestlers were at the forefront of the wrestlers’ protest against former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. After Singh’s tenure, Sanjay Singh became the head of the wrestling federation. He is considered close to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.Punia and others have said that the WFI has been suspended by the sports ministry and, therefore, has no power to invite wrestlers for the trials.The plea argues that an ad-hoc committee was constituted by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to manage the affairs of the WFI and that even though the WFI is aware of its illegal status, it issued the notice for the selection trials.“It is submitted that unless Respondent No.2 (WFI) is specifically restrained from conducting such events or issuing any such circulars it will continue to mislead, manipulate, influence, threaten and create undue and unnecessary adversities for the wrestling sportspersons,” the plea argued..The plea contends that the ad hoc committee has also issued the dates for the trial and they coincide with the dates issued by the WFI. “Two parallel national championships shall result in utmost confusion and disparity amongst contesting athletes leading to multiple qualification entrants for the International Governing bodies. It is further pertinent to place on record that there are well-founded reasonable apprehensions arising out of ill-conceived attempts of Respondent No.2 (WFI) in collusion with other entities to deliberately tamper the Petitioners’ eligibility and bona fide as a participating athlete including but not limited to anti-doping regulatory tests," the plea added.The petitioner-wrestlers have also argued that they along with other numerous athletes have been selectively targeted and harassed by the WFI for being vocal, outspoken and critical over the illegalities in the federation and the sexual harassment allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and other office bearers. “That the influence and biased political outreach of Respondent No.2 was so blatant that even investigations in a formal complaint over alleged sexual harassment issues against office bearers of Respondent No.2 was only made possible through the judicial intervention and directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India. It is a matter of record that the Petitioners including many other athletes who have raised their voices against the atrocities and blatant illegalities of Respondent No.2 have been side-lined, harassed and threatened by Respondent No.2," the plea said.