New Delhi: In a remarkable turn of events, Narsingh Pancham Yadav, the former Commonwealth Games gold medalist, has been elected as the chairman of the Athletes Commission of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). This election marks the culmination of a process mandated by the international governing body for the sport, ensuring athlete representation in the federation’s decision-making process.
The election saw eight candidates vying for seven coveted spots on the commission. After a democratic voting process, seven members were elected, and from among them, Narsingh was chosen to lead as the Chairman. This decision comes as a significant milestone in Narsingh’s career, which has been marred by controversy and setbacks.
Narsingh’s journey to this point has been anything but easy. He made headlines before the 2016 Olympics when he was pitted against Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar, who sought a trial match against him despite missing the qualification tournament due to injury. The dispute escalated to the Delhi High Court, which ultimately ruled in Narsingh’s favor, confirming his spot in the Rio Olympics.
However, in an unexpected twist, Narsingh failed two doping tests before the Olympics, leading to a four-year ban by the Sports Tribunal. In a dramatic revelation, the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) later cleared him, citing a conspiracy that led to his positive doping test.
The decision by the Sports Arbitration came just a day before Narsingh’s scheduled opening match, forcing him to withdraw from the Rio Olympics. After serving his ban, which ended in July 2020, Narsingh maintained that the entire episode was a result of a conspiracy against him.
Joining Narsingh on the Athletes Commission are Sahil from Delhi, Smita A S from Kerala, Bharatiya Bhaghei from Uttar Pradesh, Khushboo S Pawar from Gujarat, Nikki from Haryana, and Shweta Dubey from Bengal. Their election is a step forward in the WFI’s commitment to addressing the concerns of wrestlers, as stipulated by the United World Wrestling (UWW) during the lifting of the WFI’s suspension.
The establishment of the Athletes Commission is a pivotal move for the Sanjay Singh-led national federation, signifying a new era of governance where the voices of athletes are heard and their grievances addressed. Narsingh’s election as chairman is not just a personal victory but a beacon of hope for athletes seeking fair representation and justice in the sport of wrestling.
