In the backdrop of an ongoing tussle between the Union Sports Ministry and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) over recognition of the latter, several top wrestlers of the country will test themselves ahead of the Olympic qualifiers when they compete in the three-day National wrestling championships, starting at the Railway Stadium in Jaipur on February 3.
With two National championships being held back-to-back in Pune and Jaipur, the Government has made it clear that it would not recognise the results from the Pune event as it was organised by the ‘suspended’ WFI – headed by former president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s acolyte Sanjay Singh.
As the Ministry has backed the Nationals organised by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) appointed ad-hoc body here, it was no surprise that names of several elite wrestlers — who would need the Sports Authority of India’s funding for their Olympic preparation — featured in the list of participants.
