Major Setback for Indian Wrestlers: UWW Suspends WFI Over Election Delay, World Championships Participation in Jeopardy

The United World Wrestling (UWW), the global governing body for wrestling, has taken the decision to suspend the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) due to its failure to conduct timely elections. This suspension has significant consequences, as it will lead to Indian wrestlers being unable to compete under the Indian flag at the upcoming World Championships. Instead, they will have to participate as ‘neutral athletes’ in the Olympic-qualifying event that is set to commence on September 16. This situation has arisen because the ad-hoc panel led by Bhupender Singh Bajwa, which was appointed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on April 27, did not manage to organize the elections within the 45-day window as mandated by UWW.

The repercussions of this decision by UWW were anticipated, as the governing body had already warned of the possibility of suspending the Indian federation if the election deadline was not met. The suspension means that Indian wrestlers’ participation in the World Championships is at stake, and the sports ministry’s decision to nullify the original election process on May 7 has further complicated the situation.

The suspension highlights the importance of adhering to international regulations and timelines for conducting elections in sports federations. For the Indian wrestling community, this turn of events poses challenges and underscores the need for better coordination and administration within the WFI to ensure that its athletes can represent the nation on the international stage without impediments.