Coming down heavily on suspended Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Sanjay Singh for making “baseless and mischievous” claims, the sports ministry warned the WFI of legal action after the body defied the government’s orders and went ahead with the conduct of the unsanctioned and unrecognised senior National championships in Pune.
The ministry fired a fresh salvo following Singh’s statement that around 700 wrestlers would participate in the Nationals from January 29-31 and claimed that all affiliated state units of the WFI would enter their teams for participation. This despite the fact that the national body was suspended by the ministry on December 24 for violating its own constitution and provisions of the national sports code. “…Certain claims are being made by you pertaining to the recognition of the currently under-suspension executive committee of the WFI and about the competitions being held by you in Pune are being made, which are again absolutely baseless and mischievous.
It is once again informed that any championships or competitions organised by the suspended EC members of WFI will be treated as unsanctioned and unrecognised competitions and that only the IOA-appointed adhoc committee would be authorised to conduct the national wrestling championships,” the ministry said.
“In light of the above, you are hereby strongly advised to desist from making any further unsubstantiated claims regarding the status of the WFI, ” the letter added.
