ACTION PUNJAB NEWS Desk: Athletes welcomed the Sports Ministry’s decision to suspend the newly elected Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) management, but they also argued that the action came too late.
They stated that the Centre should have intervened earlier and taken strong action against the WFI for violating the sports body’s rules, rather than waiting for athletes to announce their decision to leave or return the Padma Shri.
The newly-elected WFI, led by Sanjay Singh, an ally of sexual harassment accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, made a hasty announcement that the Under-15 and Under-20 nationals would be held without adequate notice to wrestlers, in violation of the WFI’s constitution.
Geeta Phogat, an Olympian and wrestler, stated on X that she is confident wrestlers will finally get justice. “The Wrestling Federation of India has been suspended by the Sports Ministry. Even though it is late, there is a ray of hope that wrestlers will receive justice,” Phogat said.
Vijender Singh, the first Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal, who has been backing the wrestlers in their fight against Brij Bhushan, said the Centre should have tossed the WFI much sooner.
“They forced the woman to stop wrestling, the man to return his Padma Shri, and now the wrestling federation has been suspended. Action should have been taken sooner,” Vijender Singh said.
