Wrestlers seek sports minister's intervention as participation in Albania ranking series in limbo

Several wrestlers have sought the intervention of Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya as uncertainty looms over their participation in the upcoming Ranking Series in Tirana, Albania.

Asian champion Sunil Kumar and U-23 Asian Championship gold medallist Minakshi led a delegation of wrestlers to Mandaviya’s residence in New Delhi on Saturday, seeking his intervention. 

The Sports Ministry has withheld approval for the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) request to send Indian wrestlers to the second Ranking Series of the year in Tirana, Albania, scheduled from February 26 to March 2.

Earlier, Indian wrestlers missed the Zagreb Open, the first ranking series of the year. “We are unable to participate in the tournament, so we came to the minister’s residence to request him to allow us to compete,” Sunil told PTI Videos.

Participation in ranking series is crucial for wrestlers to earn valuable points, which will help secure favourable draws in the Asian Championship, scheduled for March 25-30. “It will help us in the Asian Championship in Amman in March, as the points determine the draws and first-round bouts,” Sunil added.

With Mandaviya not present at his residence, the wrestlers waited until about 2 PM before dispersing. “Earlier, we were not allowed to participate in the World Ranking Championship in Croatia, and now we are being stopped from going to Albania. We came here to request, but we don’t know the reason,” Minakshi said. “We are 30 wrestlers, and there has been no response. We came here only to find out that the minister is not here.”

The Sports Ministry clarified its position, stating that it has suspended communication with the WFI. The ministry suspended the WFI in December 2023, although the federation is still recognised by United World Wrestling (UWW).

According to the ministry, the decision to withhold approval is due to the WFI’s failure to submit the necessary recommendations on time.