Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Other Wrestlers Move Delhi High Court Against WFI Circular To Conduct Selection Trials

Wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Satyawrat Kadiyan have moved the Delhi High Court against a circular of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to conduct selection trials for the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships 2024 and Asian Olympic Games Qualifier Wrestling Tournament.

The plea seeks a direction on the WFI to cease and desist from conducting the national trials as notified through its circulated issued on February 26.

A further direction is sought on the Union Government and WFI's Ad-Hoc Committee to make the wrestling federation compliant with the National Sports Development Code, 2011, and for conducting the national selection trials for all international events under the Court's supervision and monitoring.

The plea, which has been moved through Advocate Siddharth Nayak, is likely to be heard by a single judge next week.

It is the wrestlers' case that the Central Government had issued a circular on January 07 restraining WFI from carrying out any activity and that any championships or competitions organized by it will be treated as unsanctioned and unrecognized competitions.

The plea states that as per the circular, only National Wrestling Championships for various age categories organized under the supervision of the lOA-appointed WFI's Ad-Hoc Committee will be treated as sanctioned and recognized championships for wrestling under the Sports Code. The circular is still in operation with the status quo maintained, it adds.

“It is submitted that unless Respondent No.2 (WFI) is specifically restrained from conducting such events or issuing any such circulars it will continue to mislead, manipulate, influence, threaten and create undue and unnecessary adversities for the wrestling sportspersons,” the plea states.

It adds that under no circumstances can WFI be construed to be a “legal, fair and unbiased body” to conduct free and fair national trials for international sporting events as crucial and important as the Asian Championships and World Championships.

“This is a deliberate and malafide attempt to usurp the career prospects of protesting athletes. Two parallel national championships shall result in utmost confusion and disparity amongst contesting athletes leading to multiple qualification entrants for the International Governing bodies,” the plea states.

Title: BAJRANGPUNIA & ORS. v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS .