Let WFI work, women wrestlers can win 4-5 medals in 2028: Sanjay Singh

Indore:

WFI president Sanjay Singh on Monday said India has the potential to win four to five medals in women’s wrestling at the 2028 Olympics but for that to happen “a few institutions” need to stop interfering in the day-to-day functioning of the national federation. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) remains suspended by the sports ministry even after the world governing body UWW lifted its suspension in February following the elections. The ministry had suspended the WFI on December 24, three days after the elections that saw Sanjay Singh elected as the new president.

The ministry’s action followed WFI’s announcement that it would host the national championships for under-15 and under-20 players, just hours after the elections.

The ministry said the announcement violated rules as it required 15 days’ notice to allow players to prepare.

WFI maintained that young wrestlers would lose a year if they waited 15 days, as the 2023 season would already be over.

IOA had formed an ad hoc panel to run the federation at the request of the ministry, but recently dissolved the panel. However, the ministry has not lifted the suspension yet. “If WFI is allowed to work independently and a few institutions stop interfering in our functioning, we can give the country four to five medals in women’s wrestling in the next Olympics,” Sanjay Singh told PTI.

The WFI president made the statement two days after the Indian U17 women’s team won the world title, thanks to a phenomenal performance in Amman where five Indian wrestlers became world champions, besides winning one silver and two bronze medals.

Sanjay Singh also urged Vinesh Phogat to reconsider her decision to retire.

Vinesh announced her retirement from the sport after missing out on a medal at the Paris Olympics, when she was disqualified after weighing 100 grams more in the women’s 50kg final.

“If Vinesh Phogat wants to do pure wrestling, she should reconsider her decision to quit. The new generation of female wrestlers will take inspiration from her and move on.

“The way she shares a political platform now is that if she has to do politics (in the future), she shouldn’t do it in wrestling.”

On speculation that Phogat would enter the political arena, Singh refused to comment, saying it was a personal matter for the 30-year-old wrestler. He said he would give Phogat full support if she returned to competitive wrestling.

Singh also said that the movement of wrestlers in the country in 2023 has taught the WFI a “very important lesson”.

The action was initiated against then WFI chairman Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a case of alleged sexual harassment.

“We expected Indian wrestlers to win six medals at the Paris Olympics, but wrestling activities were stopped for 18 months under the conspiracy of anti-national forces. Due to this move, the country could win only one medal at the Olympics,” he said.

“I want to keep wrestling and politics separate. So I don’t want to name anyone who started this movement, but it is because of the politics that has entered wrestling that this fate has befallen wrestling at the Olympic Games in Paris,” he said.

He also informed that WFI is considering opening a wrestling academy in Ujjain, the religious city of Madhya Pradesh.

State Minister Mohan Yadav is the president of the state wrestling association.

“Initial discussions with the Prime Minister on the plan to open a wrestling academy in Ujjain are already underway,” he added.