Junior wrestlers protest because the nationwide championships have been withheld, at Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi on January 03, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap
The ad-hoc panel, managing wrestling affairs within the nation, on January 3 introduced organisation of U-15 and U-20 National championships inside six weeks, hours after junior wrestlers held a protest at Jantar Mantar and demanded dissolution of the IOA-constituted committee.
The panel “acknowledged the concerns” of the younger wrestlers who’ve been hit exhausting by the year-long protests by prime India grapplers.
Wrestling actions within the nation have been hit exhausting following protests by the nation’s prime three grapplers — Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat — towards former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Neither the National camps nor the junior nationals have been held since January 2023.
Hundreds of junior wrestlers misplaced one full 12 months because of the stalemate.
Bhupender Singh Bajwa, chairman of the three-member panel, assured the junior wrestlers that he would quickly organise the sub junior and junior Nationals in Gwalior.
“The (ad-hoc) committee acknowledges the concerns raised by the young wrestlers (during the protest) and is committed to address the issues. The Committee is planning to organise the national championships for the U-15 and U-20 categories within the next six weeks at LNIPE, Gwalior,” Bajwa stated in an announcement.
“The ad-hoc committee reaffirms its full commitment to the growth and development of wrestling in India, fostering a culture of excellence and perseverance. The young wrestlers are advised to continue training and practising for these events,” added the assertion.
The ad-hoc panel was arrange on December 27 after the ministry suspended the newly-elected physique beneath Sanjay Singh.
