WFI Chief Blames Ad-Hoc Committee for India's 8-Year Wrestling Gold Drought
WFI President Sanjay Singh blames the IOA ad-hoc committee for India's 8-year drought in Asian Games wrestling gold before Sujeet Kalkal's historic win.
In a stunning turn of events at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, India has finally broken an eight-year deadlock in wrestling gold medals, thanks to a heroic performance by Sujeet Kalkal. However, Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Sanjay Singh has sparked controversy by pointing the finger at the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) ad-hoc committee for the country's previous failures in the sport.
Sujeet Kalkal's Miraculous Comeback
The men's 65 kg freestyle wrestling final provided one of the most dramatic moments of the games. Facing Tajikistan's Abdulmazhid Kudiev, Sujeet Kalkal appeared to be heading toward defeat. Trailing 2-9 with only a minute and 40 seconds remaining on the clock, Kalkal staged an incredible comeback. Through a series of relentless takedowns, he turned the tide in the final seconds, securing the gold medal with just eleven seconds left on the clock.
This historic victory marks India's first Asian Games gold in wrestling since the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang edition, where Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat secured gold for the nation. This win contributes to India's growing tally at the Aichi-Nagoya games, which now stands at 75 medals, including 15 golds.
The Cost of Administrative Turmoil
While the nation celebrates Kalkal's triumph, WFI President Sanjay Singh has been vocal about the administrative chaos that prevented India from winning gold in previous editions. Singh suggested that the mismanagement during the period of investigation and protests against former president Brij Bhushan Singh directly impacted athlete performance.
"What is being said about winning gold after 8 years—if trials were conducted and wrestlers were sent properly last time (during the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou), this gold would have been ours back then too," Singh stated. He explicitly blamed the IOA-appointed ad-hoc committee for the gap in success, stating, "There would not have been a 4-year gap. For that, the ad-hoc committee is largely responsible for losing our country's medal."
A Period of Uncertainty
The wrestling community has faced immense instability over the last two years. Following protests by top athletes like Bajrang Punia, Sakshee Malik, and Vinesh Phogat against Brij Bhushan Singh in early 2023, the federation entered a period of intense scrutiny. This led to several significant disruptions:
- United World Wrestling (UWW) Ban: In August 2023, the UWW imposed a ban on the WFI for failing to hold elections within the required timeframe.
- Ad-Hoc Committees: The IOA appointed committees to manage the federation's day-to-day affairs during periods of suspension and investigation.
- Election Disputes: While elections were held in late 2023, the results were met with protests from wrestlers who questioned the leadership.
- Ministry Suspensions: The Ministry suspended the federation following disputes regarding the hosting of national championships in Uttar Pradesh.
The administrative instability coincided with a disappointing performance in the 2023 Asian Games, where India managed only a single silver and five bronze medals in wrestling. One notable point of contention was the exemption of Bajrang Punia from trials for the 2023 games, a decision that was challenged in the Delhi High Court by several wrestlers, including Sujeet Kalkal.