On Tuesday, the Sports Ministry lifted the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) suspension, ending months of uncertainty in the sport. This will mark a resumption of wrestling activities, including selection trials for the upcoming Asian Championship in Amman. The WFI was suspended on December 24, 2023, due to governance and procedural issues within the newly elected body, which came into power on December 21. 

The controversy deepened when the Sanjay Singh-led administration decided to hold the Under-15 and Under-20 National Championships in Nandini Nagar, Gonda, an area linked to former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was facing sexual harassment allegations. The government objected to this choice of venue. In its official statement, the ministry said that WFI had since taken corrective steps, and in the best interest of the sport and athletes, the suspension was lifted.

"I thank the government for taking this step. It will allow us to function smoothly. It was needed for the sake of the sport. The athletes were suffering for lack of competitions," Sanjay Singh informed PTI.

Brij Bhushan, who was protested against by prominent figures in the wrestling community, including Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, welcomed the development and expressed gratitude to the government. "This struggle lasted for about 26 months, and today, the Wrestling Federation has been reinstated by the government. Therefore, we want to thank the government and the Sports Minister. If anyone has suffered due to this, it is the players and junior players... The conspirators who were involved in this, their intentions were not fulfilled. We will only say that the federation should conduct all the wrestling tournaments that used to happen earlier," he conveyed to ANI.

The ministry has instructed the WFI to maintain a balanced power distribution among its elected officials and distance itself from any suspended or dismissed members. Prem Chand Lochab, the newly elected general secretary from the opposing faction, was likely considered in this directive's context.

"The EC of the WFI must give an undertaking in this regard within 4 weeks. Any violation of the undertaking will invite appropriate legal action, including action under the Sports Code," as per the ministry’s order. The ministry's order also directed WFI to ensure that the selection process for all international events is conducted in a "free, fair and transparent manner as per the extant provisions of the Sports Code and the other latest instructions issued in this regard along with regulations issued from time-to-time by the UWW (United World Wrestling)."

The Asian Championship is set to take place in Amman, Jordan, starting March 25. Indian wrestlers could not participate in the Ranking Series tournaments in Zagreb and Albania due to the ministry's suspension and court cases filed by Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang and Satyawart Kadian.