WFI-SAI tiff leaves wrestlers in a limbo

Wrestlers worried about missing Asian, World meets
NEW DELHI: At the beginning of the new year, Indian wrestlers had hoped that their absence from international competitions, owing to the discord between the sports ministry and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), would cease.
Throughout 2024, the wrestlers were forced to remain idle due to the ministry's suspension of the federation and the subsequent rejection of competition proposals by the Sports Authority of India (SAI). Had it not been for the sit-in protest initiated by some of the aggrieved wrestlers at sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya's official residence here in Oct last year, the grapplers' participation for the World Championships in Albania's Tirana wouldn't have been sanctioned.
However, the situation hasn't changed one bit for the wrestlers, who have been punished by the sports administrators for no fault of theirs.
Having already missed out on two crucial ranking series - Zagreb (Feb 5-9) and Tirana (Feb 26 to March 2) - due to the SAI's refusal to clear proposals owing to the WFI's continued suspension, the wrestlers are now unsure about their participation in the Asian Championships, scheduled in Jordan's Amman from March 25-30.
The participation of Indian wrestlers in the forthcoming continental tournament has been made mandatory by the sport's world governing body United World Wrestling (UWW). Every Asian member nation of the UWW is required to compete in the meet, failing which it will attract sanctions and a probable ban from UWW.
A no-show would also mean that the country's wrestlers will be barred from competing at the World Championships, scheduled later this year in Zagreb from Sep 13-21. UWW's rules are clear: non-participation in Asian meet means no entry for the Worlds. If that happens, it will come as a substantial blow for wrestlers. It would seriously jeopardise their preparations for the Asian Games in Japan next year.
The wrestlers are already experiencing the repercussions owing to their no-show in the first two ranking series of the new season. In a wrestling calendar, there are four ranking series events and each of them carries crucial ranking points for seedings at the Worlds.
For the Asian meet, WFI has decided to hold the selection trials - a first such exercise for a major event since the federation's suspension by the ministry in Dec 2023.
"WFI will first organise the Federation Cup in Phagwara from March 8 to 9. The circular for the event is already out. Soon after, a selection trial will be held to pick the team for the Asian event. The federation will send the names of selected wrestlers, who will form part of the Indian contingent, to SAI for clearance. WFI will inform SAI that it's a crucial tournament for our wrestlers. Everything will then rest in the hands of SAI. If it doesn't clear the team, it will be a huge setback for our wrestlers," said a WFI official.