At suspended WFI nationals; wrestlers in fix, venue infested mosquitoes | Sport-others News

Players forced to pick a side or risk their health straddling back-to-back events. A defiant federation’s loyals frothing in rage at being restrained the Sports Minry. And a competition venue infested with mosquitoes. Indian wrestling continues to remain chaotic as a hurriedly held Senior Nationals at Pune the suspended Wrestling Federation of India that has the erstwhile wrestling chief Brij Bhushan Singh’s loyal Sanjay Singh at helm, is flying in the face of the government-mandated one at Jaipur three days later.The January 29-31 meet being conducted at Pune has failed to attract the top names of the country in any weight category, the ace wrestlers showing a preference for the February 2-5 Nationals of the government-appointed ad-hoc committee later. Maharashtra’s Atish Todkar, who beat Ravi Dahiya in the Asian Games trials in July 2023, is the only notable name.
Wrestling powerhouses Railways, Services and Punjab are amongst those to give the WFI president Sanjay Singh-led meet a cold shoulder, completely depleting the field. “There aren’t any big names in the fray here as Railways and Services aren’t coming,” said a top official on the eve of the WFI Nationals, as regrations confirmed a weak turnout.
But factions from 24 state bodies have sent in entries across Greco Roman and women’s and men’s freestyle categories, in a haphazardly cobbled show of strength for Singh, who minutes after his election had called on former WFI president Brij Bhushan, presently facing sexual harassment charges from India’s top women wrestlers.
Most states, barring Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Assam are also sending a full team to Jaipur, where the medal winners will proceed to a national camp and be considered for trials. The Sports Minry has issued strictures to the suspended WFI warning them that certificates from the unrecognised Pune meet will hold no value for job recruitments.
However, it is the wrestlers who are being torn in different directions, unsure of which Nationals can ensure a pathway to camps and selection in this Olympic year. Some plan to finish competing in Pune and rush to Jaipur, so they have all bases covered. Dropping weight twice within 5 days will see them starve and dehydrate for close to a week.
Weight problem
Karnataka’s 72 kg grappler, Asna Sareen said she came prepared to put herself through hell in this week turning up at both. “While our state association will do everything to make travel to Jaipur smooth for us as soon as we finish in Pune, we are worried about dropping weight twice. Maintaining body weight for 4-5 days not eating or drinking water is not something I’m looking forward to,” she said.
Karnataka wrestlers who will compete in both Pune and Jaipur. (Express photo)
Most wrestlers were wracked similar concerns, and forced to choose one of the two. Some Maharashtra wrestlers went through the torture during the state trials mid-January, as two factions conducted selections within 3 days at Katraj and Lonikand respectively.
A coach who doesn’t wish to be named says there’s pressure from both groups to show up, and he worried for his charges. “For a weigh-in at 8 a.m on 30th, the girls will starve on 29th, then fight whole day. And instead of recovery and eating normally to replenish body, they’ll travel to Jaipur and then starve and dehydrate again. If you go rail for two days, then you can’t sweat and lose weight in travel. Then you are again taking rash measures and are left with no energy to fight a second time. Because who knows after two months, which of the two governing bodies will hold sway,” he said.
The previous ad-hoc Nationals dates for Jaipur were January 2-5, but after elections and suspension of the federation, they were pushed to February 2-5. WFI got furious and to stay relevant, announced their dates, ahead of Jaipur as January 29-31.
‘Dadagiri of Minry’
Wrestlers from Haryana who arrived in Pune have already attended two state trials, a drict trial, and the state body sent the top finishers to Jaipur and the third placed to Pune. 55kg talent Jyoti from Hissar said it’s been a nightmare but she’s focussed on winning in Pune. “Players were left to make a hard choice. It was very confusing. Hum bachche phas gaye, (we were in a quandary)” said the 20-year-old.
Haryana wrestlers at the trials in Pune. (Express photo)
Allotted accommodation in Pune 2 km away from the Pathare Krida Sankul and expected to walk to Kharadi gaon, the Haryana lot were forced to spend from their pockets and look for a PG, as they weren’t satisfied with what was offered. “There was no water in bathrooms there. And here, the mosquitoes are going to make wrestling very difficult,” said another wrestler from the state. A wrestler was seen pausing a neck hold, swatting away mosquitos and scratching at his exposed ankles as evening descended and the vectors swarmed in. Most fidgeted at being bitten.
“Inka aapas mein lafdaa tha. Par nuksaan hua wrestlers ka (Because of internal fights, we are suffering),” said a coach from a northern state, who’s worried the certificates will be useless.

Not everyone is deterred and cagey though. Janardhan Singh, a senior coach of Madhya Pradesh, says his state body had no qualms turning up at Pune. “The government has no right to stop our Nationals. In fact the world body UWW should tell them to stop interfering in our affairs. This is dadagiri of the Minry.
The thing about our certificates not being valid is just rumours spread Minry. Ad Hoc body is only temporary. After the Lok Sabha elections, the WFI will become permanent body. If they have guts, they should go to court and stop us. They can’t. They can at most stop our funding. But Brij Bhushan sir has enough money to fund travel of our wrestlers for Internationals,” roared the man who’s been coach since 1978.