Indian Wrestlers Set to Compete in Senior World Wrestling Championship: Mandaviya

Indian wrestlers have received confirmation from Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya that they will participate in the Senior World Wrestling Championship in Tirana, Albania, beginning October 28. This decision comes despite ongoing court cases related to governance disputes in the sport.

Mandaviya emphasized, "Today the wrestlers informed me about the situation, and I instructed that the court case will proceed in the court. However, my Indian wrestlers should participate in the World Championship. Our wrestlers will go and bring medals. If any federation does good work, the government supports it. Sports should progress in the country, and our players should perform their best at both national and international levels."

Sanjay Singh, President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), expressed that the Sports Ministry has urged the federation to prioritize the athletes' and nation's interests despite the ongoing issues. He stated, "The Sports Ministry said that you should send the team in the interest of the country and the players. Whatever issues there are will be resolved through legal means."

Following the minister's meeting, Indian wrestlers felt relieved and assured of their participation in the prestigious event. One female wrestler remarked, "We are happy with the meeting. We were assured that every problem would be resolved, so we didn't need to worry. We were told to focus on the competition. Parents were concerned when the tournament was initially cancelled; this is a significant event where all top wrestlers compete. Now that permission has been granted, we will give our best."

The Senior World Wrestling Championship is a critical event, attracting elite wrestling talent from across the globe and offering Indian wrestlers a vital platform to showcase their skills. With government support, Indian athletes are poised to perform at their best on the international stage.

Earlier this week, the Wrestling Federation of India withdrew the Indian team from the upcoming championship, citing "interference" in its autonomy by the Sports Ministry. WFI sent a letter to the president of United World Wrestling, expressing concerns about ongoing interference from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS).

The letter stated, "Unfortunately, the MYAS continues to interfere in the autonomy of the WFI. The MYAS ordered on December 24, 2023, for the WFI to cease its day-to-day administration and directed the Indian Olympic Association to create an Ad-Hoc Committee for WFI governance."

The letter also mentioned a court directive from August 16, 2024, which instructed the Indian Olympic Association to form another Ad-Hoc Committee to manage WFI affairs.

Despite the Indian Olympic Association's support, WFI noted that the MYAS has become a barrier due to its December 2023 letter, which is used to justify interference. The WFI was preparing to conduct selection trials for the Senior World Championships when the courts restrained them from participating in international events due to the suspension letter.

The WFI has officially requested to withdraw any entries sent for the Senior World Championships and has urged United World Wrestling to take appropriate action regarding the ongoing issues.

The World Wrestling Championship is set to begin on October 28 in Tirana, Albania, and Indian wrestlers are determined to make their mark.

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