Internal Conflict Surfaces in IOA-Appointed Wrestling Committee

New Delhi: The ad hoc committee appointed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to manage the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is facing internal turmoil. Gyan Singh and Ashok Garg, wrestling coaches added to the committee, have expressed dissatisfaction with the committee’s leader, Bhupinder Singh Bajwa, claiming their inputs are being disregarded.

Gyan Singh stated that they were not consulted before the announcement of the trials, and Bajwa rarely allows time for discussing the sport. Furthermore, Bajwa’s preoccupation with other responsibilities, such as being the chef de mission for the Asian Games, has hindered communication between the coaches and the committee.

The trials scheduled for August 5 to 15 to select the Indian team for the World Championships and the Asian Games have sparked controversy. Bajwa’s plan involves wrestlers participating in the initial trials, after which the winners must face established athletes like Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, and others in their respective weight categories to secure a place on the Indian squad.

The trials’ structure has received criticism from various individuals, including Olympic medallist Yogeshwar Dutt, Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Ravi Dahiya, and World Championships silver medallist Deepak Punia. Gyan Singh asserts that the trials lack fairness and emphasizes the need for equal rules for all participants.

Gyan Singh hopes for a meeting with Bajwa to address the concerns and seek a fair solution that satisfies all parties involved. Additionally, the coaches intend to approach IOA joint secretary Kalyan Chaubey to discuss the matter further. Gyan clarifies that his aim is to ensure fairness rather than supporting or opposing any specific individuals.