Indian Wrestling Governance Crisis Ends, but Can the Damage Be Undone?

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Like one of the oldest running soap operas, the Indian wrestling crisis had dragged on. Many episodes, many villains, it went on for 26 months. At stake was the careers of Indian wrestlers, many ruined, many nipped in the bud.

It had almost become like Whodunit, since the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports had delayed recognition to the legally elected Wrestling Federation of India. On Tuesday, the same Sports Ministry gave the WFI recognition, signaling the end of one of the most wretched and pitched battles fought in sports governance in India.

If former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Sigh had emotions in check and spoke calmly to the media in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday, it was good. He is the man who is in the eye of a storm for many reasons. Many damaging allegations have been levelled against him by women wrestlers, which include the big names from the sport in India, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik.

The 'harassment' case is on in Delhi separately and hearings are being held. Brij Bhushan thanked the Sports Ministry. After all, current WFI President Sanjay Singh is supposed to be his trusted man.

Indeed, what was baffling was the Sports Ministry not recognising a legally elected WFI which had been made to run from pillar to post or well over a year. Many shenanigans stand exposed, of officials who played dirty roles and murky politics in this wrestling mess.

If the start of the mess in January 2023 had begun from, allegedly, the offices of the Sports Authority of India in New Delhi, the last one year or so has seen recalcitrant Sports Ministry babus not budging. Add to it the drama in the Delhi High Court where a double-bench hearing also took place on Tuesday, finally, fruition had become possible as the Sports Ministry gave approval to an elected body.

So much time has been lost in the bloody battle where the roles played by legendary wrestlers were also dirty. If Sakshi has retired from the sport and is an Indian Railways employee, the man who played damaging politics and has now joined the Congress party, Bajrang Punia also stands exposed.

Vinesh Phogat, also an elected member of the Haryana Assembly on a Congress ticket had also left no stone unturned. In its wisdom, it was the judiciary which had to play an active role. After all, nobody wanted to destroy the sports of wrestling in India. It's a sport which has brought India glory on the world stage and the Olympics.

It would be in order to place on record the role played by the Indian Olympic Association, headed by PT Usha. The IOA faced a lot of flak from the court, with an eminent sports lawyer who takes great pride in being vicious wanting to make it difficult for Usha.

She was facing charges of contempt but Usha refused to form an ad hoc body, again in the WFI. The IOA argument, as presented by the lawyers in the Delhi High Court was there was no way an ad hoc body could be formed. It would have ensured immediate suspension from the world body, UWW (United World Wrestling). Had that happened again, Indian wrestler could not have competed for their own country.

Sanity prevailed on Tuesday as the Sports Ministry finally submitted an affidavit granting recognition. Justice delayed but not denied. The 36 months lost can never be made up. An entire generation of wrestlers have suffered minus camps and competitions. The 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan is only around a year and a half away. High time wrestling returns to the mat from courts of law.