Newly-elected Wrestling Federation of India president Sanjay Singh said the focus should be on allowing the WFI to run “peacefully” so that young wrestlers in the country do not lose out on competitions and support. Sanjay, who was alleged to be a close aide of ex-president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, responded to the Sports Ministry’s decision to suspend the newly-elected national wrestling body on Sunday, refuting allegations of close ties with the former chief, who was accused of sexually harassing female wrestlers.

Sanjay Singh, speaking to the media on Sunday, pointed out that Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh cut ties with the wrestling administration and Sakshee Malikkh also retired from the sport and he expects both of them to “allow” WFI to run peacefully.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, in an address to the media on Sunday, said he had nothing to do with the Wrestling Federation of India suspension and that he had taken the decision to take a backseat from wresting administration and focus on next year’s Lok Sabha Elections. However, the Sports Ministry, in a strongly-worded notice, said the newly-elected body was “in complete control of ex-office bearers”. The Ministry also noted that the “business of the Federation is being run from the premises controlled by former office bearers”.

Notably, Sanjay Singh went and met Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh after he was elected as the new WFI chief on Thursday at the latter’s residence which is also the WFI office. The former Uttar Pradesh wrestling body president had defeated former Commonwealth Games medallist Anita Sheoran for the post of the wrestling body president.

Top wrestlers, including Sakshee Malikkh and Bajrang Punia, who had led the months-long protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh earlier in the year, expressed their disappointment at Sanjay Singh’s election. Sakshee alleged that Sanjay is a business partner of Brij Bhushan and that the power went back to the those whom they had wanted out of the federation. The Rio Olympic bronze medallist retired in protest in an emotional press conference in the capital on Thursday.

“Brij Bhushan has said he has retired from wrestling administration. Sakshsee has said she has retired from wrestling. I plead to both of them with folded hands to let the federation run peacefully, so that the future of young wrestlers is not affected. It’s an Olympic year and we need the federation to run smoothly,” Sanjay Singh told India Today.

WFI OFFICE AT BRIJ BHUSHAN’S RESIDENCE?

Responding to allegations of the WFI office running from Brij Bhushan’s residence, Sanjay Singh said that the newly-elected body needs time to find a new workplace and that it is fully ready to immediately move to wherever the government directs it to.

“One of the allegations is that the federation is run from his residence. We took over the WFI only two days before, we are looking for a place. If the Sports Mnistry tells us where to go, we will go there immediately. We are also looking for a new office, we are ready to shift immediately.

“We will talk to them about this,” he added.

Sanjay Singh also said that the decision to host the U15 and U20 nationals in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh was taken as early as the day of his election, keeping in mind the interests of young wrestlers who were without competitive action.

Notably, the Ministry called out Sanjay Singh’s decision to announce the nationals without following proper protocols and giving wrestlers prior notice.

‘HOW CAN WE BE RELATIVES?’

Sanjay Singh also shed light on his equation with Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, saying they both are not relatives. However, he added that they shared a good bond because of their posts as president and secretary-general in the previous WFI regime.

“He and I are from different communities. How can we be relatives? When he was the president of the federation, I was joint secretary. Yes, there was a bond and friendship at that time between us,” he added.

On Sunday, the Sports Ministry wrote to the Indian Olympic Association, urging the national body to form an ad-hoc committee to oversee the operations of the wrestling federation.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Singh confirmed that he will meet the Sports Minister Anurag Thakur soon and try and convince him to understand his points of view regarding the suspension and the points raised by the Ministry.

“We will compile our points of view and meet the Sports Minister soon. We will take the letters from all the state federations and place our viewpoint in front of him. We will try to convince him and tell him that our young wrestlers’ future shouldn’t be ruined because of this and explain the call that was taken in mind, keeping in mind the nationals for the kids,” Sanjay Singh said while adding that he is prepared to take the legal route only if the newly-elected body is not able to convince the Sports Minister.