Struggling Federation of Indians in trouble again, secretary Prem Chand Lochab accuses new president
Prem Chand Lochab alleged that the new WFI president did not follow the rule while announcing the junior nationals.
New Delhi: Barely 24 hours have passed since the formation of the new wrestling federation and problems have begun to arise within the sporting body, with Secretary General Prem Chand Lochab demanding a postponement of the junior Nationals. He says the president did not follow the rules when announcing the dates for the competition.
The new body under President Sanjay Singh had on Friday announced that the U15 and U20 nationals will be held in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh from December 28 to 30. The decision was taken by the newly elected members, hours after their election to various posts.
Former RSPB secretary Lochab, who won against the rival Anita Sheoran panel, did not attend the meeting and claimed all decisions had to come through the WFI secretary general. Sanjay Singh claimed that the decision was taken keeping in mind the benefits and interests of junior wrestlers and that he did not flout any rule as the statutes of the WFI Constitution allow him to make decisions and the General Secretary is required to to follow.
On Friday, Lochab wrote to Sanjay Singh that a few states have objected to the rescheduling and rescheduling of age groups and junior Nationals. Lochab wrote: “In this regard, no regular meeting of the Executive Committee of WFI according to the Constitution has taken place following the elections for the newly elected Executive Council held on 21-12-2023.”
“In view of the above, it is felt that the grievances of the state federations are genuine and can be considered and the 2023 U20 and U15 National Wrestling Championships scheduled at Nandini Nagar, Gonda from December 28 to 30 may be postponed.”
A copy of the letter has also been addressed to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). Lochab also did not like that the Nationals’ announcement was made without consulting him, as the WFI Constitution mandates the Secretary General to be part of decision-making.
“Decisions relating to the holding of sports tournaments and all communications relating to the functions of WFI shall be made in accordance with the Constitution/Articles of Association of WFI and shall be made through the Secretary General as prescribed in the Articles of Association of WFI,” he wrote.
In his defense, Sanjay Singh told PTI that they did not want junior wrestlers to lose a year and hence a decision was taken quickly in this regard. “The decision was not made to hurt anyone’s ego. Our only concern was that junior wrestlers who couldn’t play at Nationals in the 2023 calendar would get the opportunity. Many wrestlers have their senior year in the U15 and U20 age groups and after January 1, 2024 they lose eligibility to compete in the junior divisions.
“It’s not their fault the Nationals weren’t held earlier this year. Why shouldn’t they get a chance to compete? What is our personal advantage in this? We only think about wrestlers’ interest, nothing else.
“There is also no relocation or rescheduling of the Junior Nationals. This is a new announcement. The ad hoc panel had never scheduled the junior Nationals and the panel had only announced the senior nationals and we have already canceled all the decisions of the ad hoc body.”
Sanjay Singh also claimed that if any decision has been taken by the President, the Secretary General is obliged to follow suit. “The Articles of Association state that he (the Secretary General) shall be the executive officer of the Federation and shall be responsible for carrying out all decisions of the President, Council, Executive Committee and other committees and shall ensure that all rules of the federation as well as those of the UWW are fully complied with,” the president said, explaining the rule.
The WFI officials also said that most state associations are in favor of hosting the junior nationals from December 28 to 30 and are receiving the written requests to follow the plan.