Wrestling
WFI to reserve quotas for wrestlers at Asian C'ships as precaution
The WFI plans to tentatively send names of wrestlers that were selected for the two ranking series earlier in the year.
Aman Sehrawat
New Delhi: The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has decided to take precautionary measures for its wrestlers by reserving quotas for next month’s Asian Championships.
With only a day at left to send in the entries, the WFI plans to send tentative names of wrestlers to seal the quota.
The continental competition is scheduled to be held in Amman, Jordan from March 25-30. The Bridge had earlier reported that the last date to send entries for the continental championships is February 25.
“Tomorrow (February 25) is the last date. We will reserve our quota by sending tentative names for now,” Sanjay Singh, WFI President, confirmed to this publication.
“Hum team nahi bhejenge. Court ka stay hai, contempt hoga court order ka. Sirf quota reserve karenge. (We will not send the team, we are not allowed to hold trials. There is a court order and doing so would lead to contempt of court. We'll just reserve the quota),” Singh pointed.
A country can make changes in the entries ten days before the event begins on medical grounds. For now, the WFI plans to tentatively send names of wrestlers that were selected for the two ranking series earlier in the year.
Interestingly, the international governing body – United World Wrestling – authorises only the WFI to send entries of its athletes, while the Sports Ministry had restrained Sanjay Singh-led WFI to administer and manage the federation’s activities in December 2023.
It is learnt, from highly placed sources in the WFI, that the federation and the sports ministry are working out ways to resolve the ongoing standoff ahead of the March 3 hearing.
The WFI president, however, denied meeting the Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
“No, I have not met the sports minister,” said Singh.
According to UWW rule, it is mandatory for participating nations to field players in continental events like the Asian Championships to qualify for the World Championships.
The wrestlers have already missed two of the four ranking tournaments, namely the Zagreb Open and Muhamet Malo, due to delay in clearance from the Sports Ministry, this season.
