Will Withdraw Circular To Conduct Olympic Trials: WFI To Delhi High Court

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Thursday informed the Delhi High Court that it will withdraw its circular issued on February 26 to conduct selection trials for the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships 2024 and Asian Olympic Games Qualifier Wrestling Tournament.

Justice Sachin Datta was informed by WFI's counsel that the circular shall be withdrawn, without prejudice to its rights and contentions.

The court said that consequently, the trials shall proceed as per the circular issued by WFI's ad-hoc committee on February 09 announcing that the National Selection Trials will be held in March 10-11.

“Needless to say that the ad-hoc will ensure that all the eligible athletes are allowed to participate in the trial,” the court said.

The matter will now be heard on April 26.

The court was hearing a plea moved by wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Satyawrat Kadiyan against WFI's circular.

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.

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.

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.

It adds that the circular is still in operation with the status quo maintained.

The plea contends that under no circumstances can the wrestling federation be construed to be a “legal, fair and unbiased body” to conduct free and fair national trials for international sports events, including the Asian Championships and World Championships.

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