March 11,2025: The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has officially lifted the suspension on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), reinstating its recognition as a National Sports Federation (NSF) for the sport. This decision follows a turbulent period that saw the WFI suspended due to allegations of sexual harassment and mismanagement.
In 2023, the WFI became embroiled in controversy when top wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia spearheaded protests against the federation’s then-president, Brij Bhushan Singh. These wrestlers accused Singh of sexual assault, sparking widespread unrest and calls for reform. The protests led to United World Wrestling (UWW) imposing a ban on the WFI for failing to hold elections within the mandated time.
In response to the crisis, the International Olympic Association (IOA) appointed an ad-hoc committee to oversee the federation’s affairs. However, the situation remained unresolved, and in December 2023, elections were held, with Sanjay Singh elected as the new WFI president. Despite the elections, the controversy continued as wrestlers protested against Singh’s election, citing his alleged ties to the former president, Brij Bhushan.
Soon after Singh’s election, the Sports Ministry suspended the WFI again when he announced the hosting of the U-15 and U-20 national wrestling competitions in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district. This led to the reappointment of the ad-hoc committee to manage the WFI.
In March 2024, the IOA dissolved the ad-hoc committee, stating that there was no longer a need for it after the lifting of the suspension by UWW and the successful completion of selection trials for upcoming events. UWW had lifted its ban on WFI in February 2024, allowing the federation to resume its operations.
This development marks a new chapter for Indian wrestling, with hopes of stability and growth in the future of the sport.