Delhi High Court asks WFI, Central government to reply to plea by wrestlers against WFI circular for Olympic trials

The Delhi High Court on Monday sought the response of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and Central government on a plea filed by wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Satywart Kadian challenging a WFI circular inviting wrestlers to participate in selection trials for the Asian Olympic Qualifiers and the World Olympic Qualifiers [Bajrang Punia & Ors v Union of India & Ors]. .Justice Sachin Datta has also sought a response from the ad-hoc committee constituted by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to manage the affairs of the WFI. The matter will be heard next on Thursday (March 7). .Notably, the wrestlers who filed the plea 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..Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, other wrestlers move Delhi High Court against WFI circular for Olympic 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.It contended that the ad hoc committee has also issued the dates for the trial and that these dates 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 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," their plea further stated.