NEW DELHI: The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) told the Delhi High Court on Thursday that it will withdraw its February 26 circular about the selection trials for the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships 2024 and Asian Olympic Games Qualifier, paving the way for the Indian Olympic Association-appointed ad-hoc committee to conduct the trials.
The High Court order states that consequently, “there shall be no parallel selection trials” as apprehended in the plea moved by the petitioner wrestlers.
The court thereafter said, “Needless to say, the ad-hoc committee shall ensure that all athletes, which are found eligible, are permitted to participate in the trial.”
The matter is next listed for April 26.
The High Court was hearing a plea moved by Olympic medallist wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat to declare the WFI election held in December 2023 illegal on the grounds that the federation was not compliant with the national sports code.
Among various reliefs, the petitioners have also sought directions against the “illegal action” of the “suspended” WFI in conducting selection trials notified in the February 26 circular, claiming that it had gone against the directives of the ad-hoc committee for WFI.
A single-judge Bench of Justice Sachin Datta, in its interim order, said, “After some hearing, Mr. Dayan Krishnan, learned senior counsel who seeks to appear for respondent no.2 (through Mr. Sanjay Kumar Singh) submits, on instructions, that without prejudice to his rights and contentions, the circular dated 26.02.2024, filed as Annexure P-26 to the present petition, may be treated as withdrawn. It is directed accordingly”.
“The selection trials shall proceed as per the circular/press release (of the ad-hoc committee) dated 09.02.2024 …,” the court added. As per this circular, the trials for the Olympic Qualifiers & Asian Championships are to be held by the ad-hoc committee between March 10-11 at NSNIS Patiala and SAI Sonipat.
Sanjay Singh, a close aide of former president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a BJP MP, was elected president of the WFI late last year. On December 24, the sports ministry suspended the elected body of the WFI for ‘blatant disregard for established legal and procedural norms’ and subsequently directed the Indian Olympic Association to set up an ad-hoc committee to run the day-to-day affairs of the WFI.
Agencies

Agencies