The conundrum surrounding the Wrestling Federation Of India (WFI) took a fresh turn on Thursday as Olympic bronze medalist Sakshee Malikkh advised wrestlers to participate in the event organised by the ad-hoc committee in Jaipur. While some athletes still plan to compete in the tournament conducted by the suspended Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) in Pune.Malikkh, along with Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, spearheaded the fight against the WFIs former president, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is accused of sexual harassment and intimidation. सच्चाई छुप नहीं सकती झूठे रसूलों से और खुशबू आ नहीं सकती कागज के फूलों से🙏 pic.twitter.com/Lau1fBAu0W— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) January 18, 2024Sakshee Malikkh shares video messagesIn a video message, Malikkh urged fellow wrestlers to go and play in the Nationals organised by the ad-hoc committee and refrain from the WFI event, emphasising its recognition by the government.The latest development comes after the ad-hoc committee, appointed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to oversee the WFI following the suspension of the elected body, announced the national championships to be held between February 2 to 5 in Jaipur. The panel, led by Bhupinder Singh Bajwa said that the event will feature competitions across freestyle, Greco-Roman, and womens categories.According to PTI reports, the situation remains cloudy as a female wrestler from Rohtak revealed that many athletes, including the majority of Haryana wrestlers, intend to participate in the WFIs Pune tournament. According to her, states like Delhi, Punjab, and Rajasthan are also leaning towards Pune, indicating a potential split among wrestlers.What is going on with WFIThe division within the wrestling community poses logistical challenges and raises questions about the legitimacy of both tournaments. While the ad-hoc committees event holds official recognition, the WFI still retains a significant base of support among wrestlers, particularly in many states.
