Narsingh Yadav Appointed Chairman of WFI Athletes' Panel to Address Wrestlers' Grievances

Narsingh Pancham Yadav, a former Commonwealth Games gold medalist, has been elected as the chairman of the Wrestling Federation of India's (WFI) Athletes' Commission. The commission, consisting of seven members, was formed to address the grievances of protesting wrestlers, as mandated by the United World Wrestling (UWW) while lifting the suspension on the WFI.

The election process saw eight candidates vying for the seven positions, with Yadav emerging as the chairman after a ballot. The other elected members include Sahil (Delhi), Smitha AS (Kerala), Bharti Bhaghei (UP), Khushboo S Pawar (Gujarat), Nikki (Haryana), and Sweta Dubey (Bengal).

The formation of the athletes' commission was a condition set by the UWW for lifting the suspension on the WFI, which was placed under provisional suspension in August 2023 after failing to hold fresh elections in a timely manner. The suspension was revoked in February 2024, with the stipulation that the WFI must constitute an athletes' commission before July 1, 2024.

The appointment of Yadav as the chairman comes in the wake of a protracted protest by top Indian wrestlers, including Olympic and Asian Games medalists, who accused the then WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment and intimidation. The new WFI president, Sanjay Singh, informed about the elections and Yadav's appointment.

Why this matters: The formation of the athletes' commission and the appointment of Narsingh Yadav as its chairman signify a meaningful step towards addressing the concerns raised by the protesting wrestlers and bringing stability to Indian wrestling. The commission's role in resolving the grievances of the athletes is vital for the future of the sport in the country.

Narsingh Yadav, who clinched the gold medal in the men's freestyle 74kg category at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, had previously faced controversy when he was banned for four years ahead of the 2016 Olympics due to a doping violation. However, Yadav maintained that the entire episode was a case of sabotage. "The ban ended in 2020, and Yadav has maintained that the entire episode was a case of sabotage," stated WFI president Sanjay Singh.

Key Takeaways

• Narsingh Yadav elected chairman of WFI's Athletes' Commission to address wrestler grievances.
• Commission formed as a condition by UWW to lift WFI's suspension in 2024.
• Yadav, a former Commonwealth Games gold medalist, faced a 4-year doping ban in 2016.
• Commission to play vital role in resolving issues raised by protesting Indian wrestlers.
• New WFI president Sanjay Singh announced Yadav's appointment as commission chairman.