The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons. The Indian wrestlers who participated in the Paris Olympics did not perform up to their potential, and the WFI president, Sanjay Singh, has attributed this to the protests that took place for 14-15 months.
The protests were led by top Indian wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik, who were protesting against the allegations made against former wrestling body chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The allegations were related to corruption and favoritism in the selection of wrestlers for international tournaments.
The protests went on for about a year, and during this time, the Indian wrestlers were not able to participate in many international tournaments. This lack of exposure and practice may have affected their performance at the Paris Olympics.
India’s official medal count from wrestling reads just one bronze medal at the moment. This is a disappointing result for a country that has a rich wrestling tradition and has produced some of the best wrestlers in the world.
The WFI needs to take a hard look at itself and address the issues that led to the protests in the first place. Corruption and favoritism have no place in sports, and the WFI needs to ensure that the selection of wrestlers for international tournaments is fair and transparent.
The Indian wrestlers also need to focus on their training and preparation for international tournaments. They need to participate in more tournaments and get more exposure to international competition. This will help them improve their skills and perform better at the international level.
In conclusion, the mediocre performance of Indian wrestlers at the Paris Olympics is a wake-up call for the WFI and the Indian wrestling community. It is time to address the issues that led to the protests and ensure that Indian wrestlers get the support and training they need to perform at the international level.