Bhupinder Singh Bajwa has been announced as the new chairman of the recently created ad-hoc committee by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). His responsibilities include running the day-to-day matters of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) with immediate effect on December 27.
IOA has issued a letter regarding the same and the decision comes after the Union Sports Ministry had suspended the entire Wrestling Federation of India (WFI)’s governing council. Earlier on December 24, the Union Sports Ministry asked the IOA to look into forming an ad-hoc committee to manage and control the affairs of the WFI.
“The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) says that the recently appointed President and officials of WFI have made arbitrary decisions in violation of their own constitutional provisions and against the principles of good governance espoused by IOC and further without following due process overturned the rulings of the IOA- appointed Ad hoc Committee. This not only showcases a governance gap within the Federation but also highlights a noticeable departure from established norms,” it further read.
Protests by the accomplished wrestlers such as Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia over the election of an aide of deposed WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh as the new president of the wrestling federation had sparked major discussions. The Union Sports Ministry on December 24 suspended the sport’s premier governing body along with all its office-bearers.
“The IOA considers following governance norms essential for ensuring fair play, transparency, and accountability and also to safeguard the interests of the sportspersons as envisioned by IOC and to ensure continuity. It has been decided to appoint an Ad hoc committee consisting of the following with immediate effect,” the letter further read.
The ad hoc committee was formed by the IOA at the ministry’s request on December 27. Bajwa will be running the WFI in assistance of MM Somaya and Manjusha Kanwar in the newly constituted ad hoc committee.
The Ad hoc Committee has been given the task of overseeing and supervising WFI’s operations that include athlete selection, submitting entries for athletes to participate in international events, organising sports activities, handling bank accounts, managing the website and other similar related responsibilities.
