The Delhi High Court has reinstated the mandate of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA)’s ad hoc committee for the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). This decision came as part of a plea seeking to halt the WFI’s operations and prevent it from functioning as a national federation in its current form. The court’s interim order allows the IOA to reconstitute the ad hoc committee if deemed necessary. This move follows a high-profile legal challenge initiated by prominent wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Satyawart Kadian, who are contesting the legality of the WFI elections held in December 2023.
The wrestlers’ petition sought to overturn the election of Sanjay Singh as WFI chief and stop the federation’s activities due to alleged irregularities and failure to adhere to its constitution. The WFI was suspended by the Centre in December 2023 for not following proper procedures, and an ad hoc committee was appointed to oversee the federation’s affairs. Although the United World Wrestling lifted the suspension in February 2024, the IOA’s ad hoc committee was dissolved in March. The court’s latest decision mandates the restoration of the ad hoc committee, continuing the oversight of the WFI’s governance.
