Former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President and serving Member of Parliament Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh held a press conference after meeting Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) president JP Nadda following the Sports Ministry's decision to suspend the WFI body on Sunday.
"I have retired from wrestling, elections are coming, now everything will be done by the new federation," Singh said. "My request to the government is to organize this tournament, even if it is in Delhi so that the year of the children are not spoiled," he told reporters.
This comes hours after the Sports Ministry suspended the just-elected Wrestling Federation of India body following the new President Sanjay Singh's announcment to hold the U-15 and U-20 nationals.
After being elected as the new WFI chief, Sanjay Singh announced that the nationals will take place in Nandini Nagar, Gonda (UP) before the end of this year. The Sports Ministry has said that the announcement is hasty and without sufficient notice to the wrestlers.
Clarifying the decision to hold U-15 and U-20 nationals, Bhushan said, "It was decided to be held in Nandini Nagar because everyone else refused to participate in the tournament. The decision was taken so that the children's year does not get spoiled." He further said, "Let the new body say whatever they want to, I have a lot of work, I have to prepare for the elections."
In its official statement, the Ministry said that the newly elected WFI is being run by the ex-officer bearers. "Newly elected body appears to be in complete control of former office bearers in complete disregard to the Sports Code. The business of the Federation is being run from the premises controlled by former office bearers. Which is also alleged premises wherein sexual harassment of the players have been alleged and present the court is hearing the matter," the Ministry added in the statement.
Sanjay Singh, Brij Bhushan's aide, was elected the new President of WFI on December 21. The Protesting wrestlers lashed out at the move with Sakshi Malik announcing her retirement and Bajran Punia returned his Padma Shri award.
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