The Delhi High Court has ruled that the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) cannot organize the Senior National Championships, upholding the authority of the ad-hoc committee appointed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The court’s decision stems from a petition filed by wrestler Satyawart Kadian, who challenged WFI’s attempt to hold the tournament in Bengaluru from December 6-8.
The court’s order emphasizes that the ad-hoc committee, established by the IOA in December 2023, remains in charge of WFI’s affairs while the Sports Ministry’s suspension order against the federation remains in effect. WFI’s counsel argued that the tournament was a “private event” and not an official championship, but the court directed the federation to file an affidavit confirming this within a week.
The Sports Ministry’s suspension of WFI has created a challenging situation for the federation, making it difficult to organize tournaments or select India teams. WFI is considering challenging the court’s order in a higher bench.
The crisis surrounding WFI erupted last month when the federation withdrew the Indian team from the Senior World Championships, citing the Sports Ministry’s alleged interference in its autonomy. However, the crisis was averted after wrestlers met with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who pledged to resolve the issue.
The court’s ruling and the ongoing suspension of WFI have raised concerns about the impact on wrestling in India. Young wrestlers are particularly affected by the uncertainty, as they are unable to participate in tournaments or qualify for international events.
