CHENNAI: Even as the top four wrestlers of selection trials await national camps ahead of all important Asian Championships and Asian Olympic Games Qualifier, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the government, read sports ministry, and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to file their respective affidavits on the next date, April 10.
The court was hearing a writ petition filed by protesting wrestlers — Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and her husband Satywart Kadian. The wrestlers had prayed to the court through an urgent application to appoint an administrator/one-person committee to run the day-to-day affairs of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
The WFI headed by Sanjay Kumar Singh had requested the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to organise camps for the selected wrestlers and has apparently not received a reply yet. The continental event starts on April 11 while the Olympic Qualifier will be held from April 19 to 21. Both events will be hosted in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
"The WFI has submitted its reply. The court had asked the sports ministry in the last hearing on March 22 to file a reply on who is running the WFI as it suspended the federation last year in December while the ad-hoc committee formed by the IOA to manage the affairs was also dissolved. The court has now once again asked the ministry to file an affidavit on who's managing the affairs of the WFI," Hemant Phalpher, WFI's counsel, told this daily.
The sports ministry's reply on Tuesday seemingly failed to cut the ice with the court. "The ministry's reply included events that followed since the WFI's suspension by it. Nonetheless, the court wanted to know who is running the WFI if it has been suspended by the ministry and even the IOA's panel has been dissolved," added Phalpher.
"As the IOA dissolved the panel, the court asked it to submit an affidavit explaining the rationale behind the move," said Phalpher. It is learnt that the WFI may move the court challenging the ministry's suspension. Sources told this daily that the petition could be filed before the next hearing.
SAI still recognises ad-hoc panel?
It can't get more complicated and quirky. The SAI on Monday gave administrative sanction for the Asian Championships and Asian Olympic Qualifier for 59 members at cost to the government. Participation of the team manager, on whose name sanction was granted, will be at no cost to the government.
Interestingly, the SAI still seems to recognise the ad-hoc panel, which was dissolved on March 18. As per the sanction letter, the ad-hoc panel of the WFI has to submit medical fitness certificates of athletes verified by the doctor to SAI, HQ.
Besides, Antim, who had earned an Olympic quota in 53kg, has been named in the Asian Championships squad. She, however, has decided not to compete in the event. It is learnt that Anju, who won the trials, is expected to be named in the squad, which also features Vinesh in 50kg.