Delhi High Court to Hear Wrestlers' Plea Against WFI Elections

The Delhi High Court is set to hear a petition by prominent wrestlers including Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat on September 12, challenging the 2023 elections of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The wrestlers claim the elections were illegal and have sought immediate court intervention citing national interest.

The Delhi High Court has scheduled a hearing for September 12 on a petition filed by renowned wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Satyawart Kadian. The petition seeks to nullify the 2023 Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections, calling them illegal.

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav has urged the wrestlers, along with the Centre and WFI, to complete pleadings before the hearing. The wrestlers’ counsel argued that the WFI is governed by proxies, raising concerns over the presence of current WFI president Sanjay Singh at the Olympic Village in Paris.

The senior lawyer emphasized the national significance of the matter, urging swift court action. The Central government expressed support for Phogat. The petitioners have requested the court to cease WFI’s current operations and appoint an ad-hoc committee to manage its affairs.