'Politics in Railways,' claim wrestlers over National Cship limbo

Nearly 100 wrestlers affiliated with Indian Railways face uncertainty over their participation in the upcoming National Wrestling Championships, set to begin on December 6 in Bengaluru.

The wrestlers are concerned that they may miss out on the event due to the Railways' lack of clarity regarding their entries for the meet.

As per reports from PTI, the confusion surrounding participation has led some wrestlers taking matters into their own hands, with a few submitting affidavits to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), expressing their intention to compete for their respective states instead.

However, this could be a complicated process, as they would need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Railways to do so, something that many believe is unlikely to be granted.

The Railways Sports Promotion Board (RSPB), a key body affiliated with WFI alongside other major organizations like the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) and state associations, plays a significant role in facilitating the participation of Railways employees in national competitions.

Despite this, the RSPB has reportedly remained silent on whether it will send a team this year, leaving wrestlers in limbo.

Prem Chand Lochab, Secretary of RSPB and WFI General Secretary, has reportedly been notably unavailable for comment.

The WFI, despite being suspended by the Sports Ministry, has not been barred from organizing the National Championships, which are scheduled to take place at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru.

The RSPB, which has employed several prominent wrestlers in the past, including the suspended Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, and Sakshi Malik, has been running a training camp in Kapurthala, Punjab, since November 10.

However, the camp's purpose remains unclear.

While a notice issued on November 6 lists 81 wrestlers in freestyle and Greco-Roman categories, as well as 15 coaches and three trainers, it does not specify if the camp is being organized in preparation for the Nationals, as has been the practice in previous years.

One wrestler, speaking on account of anonymity to PTI, revealed that they had been told "98 percent sure Railways will not send its team to the Nationals," but no official reason had been provided.

"If there is no selection trials during the camp and we will not be allowed to compete at the Nationals, what's the point of having this camp?" the wrestler added, expressing frustration over the lack of transparency.

Another wrestler pointed out that internal "politics" within Railways had been detrimental to their careers.

"Politics has always been there in Railways. Several times we were told to switch categories if so-called star wrestlers like Bajrang or Vinesh would compete. Trials were not held in their categories. It has been going on for long," they said.

"Now also, what is our fault? Why are we being denied the chance to win a seat at the National camp and be part of the national team?"

A coach involved with the Railways wrestling camp confirmed to PTI that they had received verbal instructions from the authorities stating that Railways would not be sending a team to the Nationals this year.

"There is no written communication, but we have been conveyed that Railways won't send a team. What's the point of sending a team if the certificate does not hold value? It would count for nothing since WFI is suspended," said the coach, speaking on condition of anonymity.

This lack of clarity stands in stark contrast to Railways' recent actions.

The organization had recently approved its coaches to travel with Indian national teams for various international competitions, including the U20 World Championships in Spain in September and the Senior and U23 World Championships in Albania in October.

Wrestlers have pointed out the inconsistency of the Railways' stance on participation, questioning why coaches were allowed to travel abroad under WFI's purview if the organization’s suspension rendered the department's involvement in national competitions moot.

"If they are giving the excuse that wrestlers can't be sent because WFI is suspended, why then did Railways clear the names of its coaches to travel with the teams abroad? The teams were picked by WFI only. Was the WFI not suspended then?" one wrestler asked.

With the National Championships just days away, the uncertainty continues to cloud the future of Railways-affiliated wrestlers, many of whom are now considering alternate paths to secure a place in the competition.