‘Wrestlers Under Threat Again’: Bajrang, Sakshi’s Open Letter To World Wrestling Body

New Delhi: Two days after United World Wrestling (UWW) revoked the suspension of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik have written an open letter to the world wrestling body stating that the wrestlers will be under threat again.

The Olympics medallists, who had spearheaded a protest against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh accusing him of sexually harassing several female wrestlers, said that they will be subject to harassment from the elected members of WFI.

Bajrang and Sakshi urged UWW to take action against the WFI, accusing its newly-elected president Sanjay Singh of acting against the Union Sports Ministry’s directives.

The top wrestlers said that the Singh-helmed WFI didn’t pay heed to directives of the ad-hoc committee which was appointed to oversee operations of WFI after the national body was suspended by the Sports Ministry in December.

UWW had suspended WFI last August over a delay in holding general body elections.

Now that UWW has revoked its decision, Bajrang and Sakshi have approached it urging action.

“This decision has again put Indian wrestlers under threat and harassment by WFI members. This is to bring to your notice that this WFI was suspended by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYAS) dated 27 December 2023 due to serious anomalies after a couple of days of taking charge,” Bajrang wrote in the open letter.

“MYAS also formed an Ad Hoc Committee to oversee and conduct wrestling activities. Even after this suspension, WFI members took blatant decisions to conduct sporting activities without any recognition from sports ministries under the same leadership. Wrestlers all over India have lost trust and belief in the functioning of Wrestling Federation of India. Because of this MYAS took diligent steps and issued a circular dated 7th January 2024.

“Even after this they have publicly issued statements against wrestlers and Ad Hoc Committee. This elected body is still being run by same individual and their allies who serious charges against them and MYAS also took the same in consideration while suspending the body. For your reference we have attached the mentioned letters.

“We wrestlers request you kindly support Indian athletes against unfair practices and harassment through various means. Indian wrestlers are looking up to you for justice and their rights to fair and safe play. We are hopeful that you will consider our request to support clean and fair sports activities in India and take necessary actions against the WFI,” the letter added.