The Indian wrestling team has secured government approval to participate in the upcoming World Championships in Albania, following intervention by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. The decision came after 12 selected wrestlers assembled outside Mandaviya’s residence on Friday, seeking his support just one day after the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) announced it would withdraw India’s entries due to legal complications.
The WFI, which remains under suspension by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, pulled the Indian teams from the championships after wrestler Satyawart Kadian, husband of Olympian Sakshi Malik, filed a court case challenging the WFI’s authority to conduct selection trials. Kadian argued that, as a suspended entity, the WFI’s decision violated court orders and constituted contempt. Although the United World Wrestling (UWW) lifted the WFI’s suspension in February, the ministry and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) have yet to reinstate the WFI’s authority or reintroduce the ad-hoc panel overseeing the sport.
After an hour-long meeting with the wrestlers and WFI President Sanjay Singh, Mandaviya assured the athletes that their participation in the championships would proceed despite the ongoing court case. “A group of wrestlers met me and apprised me of the issue. I have ensured that the court matter will continue in its own course, but the wrestlers must compete in the World Championships. They should get this opportunity,” Mandaviya said, indicating that his office would take responsibility if any legal challenges arose.
Sanjay Singh confirmed that the athletes’ tickets had already been booked, and the team would depart as scheduled. He further noted that the ministry would consider lifting WFI’s suspension, though no specific timeline was provided. “The ministry has said it will review it, which could take a month or more,” Singh stated.
Among the wrestlers present were key members of the women’s and men’s teams, including Manisha Bhanwala, who won the 65kg category. Frustrated by the uncertainty, she commented earlier, “It takes years to reach this stage, and now this opportunity is being snatched away. What is our fault?” She and others expressed relief following the minister’s intervention, with Bhanwala saying, “He assured us all the help we need. He even discussed future support plans as India prepares to host the Olympics.”
Bhanwala and her fellow wrestlers, Mansi Ahlawat (59kg), Kirti (55kg), and Bipasha (72kg), as well as men’s freestyle wrestlers Udit (61kg), Manish Goswami (70kg), Parvinder Singh (79kg), Sandeep Mann (92kg), and Greco-Roman wrestlers Sanjeev (55kg), Chetan (63kg), Ankit Gulia (72kg), and Rohit Dahiya (82kg), had initially approached the court. However, after being advised of scheduling delays, they proceeded to Mandaviya’s residence, where they waited until the evening for the meeting.
The WFI cited “government interference” when notifying UWW of its decision to withdraw the teams, although Mandaviya clarified that the government’s role was strictly supportive, with no intentions of controlling sports federations.
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The 2024 Senior World Championships, featuring 12 non-Olympic weight categories, are set to take place from October 28 in Tirana, Albania. These championships represent a significant opportunity for India’s junior wrestlers, who had previously felt that the involvement of protesting senior wrestlers was hindering their careers. One wrestler voiced this sentiment, saying, “These protesting wrestlers are done with their careers; why are they playing with ours?”
The WFI recently announced selection trials for the U23 and Senior World Championships, a decision that met legal pushback from wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Satyawart Kadian, who questioned the legitimacy of the selection process.
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