Hang me but wrestling activity should not stop: WFI chief Brij Bhushan

The president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, stated on Monday that wrestling activities, including national championships and camps, had been halted for the past four months due to protests by the country's top wrestlers.

Singh emphasized that he was willing to face consequences, but he urged organizers to allow cadet nationals to continue, as it would harm the futures of younger wrestlers.

The protesting wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat, among others, have accused Singh of sexually harassing female wrestlers.

Two FIRs have been filed against Singh, one of which was under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The Sports Ministry has postponed the WFI elections scheduled for May 7 and requested that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) create an ad-hoc committee to oversee the election and manage the sports body. A three-member ad-hoc panel, including former shooter Suma Shirur, Wushu Association of India chief Bhupendra Singh Bajwa, and a retired high court judge, has been created by the IOA to manage the WFI's operations until a new body is elected.

Singh stated that the WFI had no objection to whoever organizes the cadet nationals, be it the protesting wrestlers, the IOA, or the government, as long as the tournament takes place. Singh has served as WFI president for twelve years and is ineligible to apply for the post again under the Sports Code.