Sanjay Singh, Chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), has attributed India’s underwhelming performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics to the prolonged protests by wrestlers. India sent a six-member wrestling contingent to the Games, but only Aman Sehrawat secured a medal, earning bronze in the men’s 57kg category by defeating Puerto Rico’s Darian Cruz.
Sanjay Singh, who succeeded Brij Bhushan Singh as WFI chief in December 2023, criticized the impact of the year-long protests on the athletes’ preparations. The protests, which began in January 2023 against Brij Bhushan, created significant disruptions in the wrestling community. Singh argued that the ongoing unrest prevented wrestlers from adequately preparing for the Olympics due to the lack of access to national and international tournaments.
“If you consider the situation from another perspective, the protests lasting 14-15 months had a profound impact on the wrestling fraternity. The disturbances meant that wrestlers could not focus on their training or participate in crucial events, severely affecting their performance,” Sanjay Singh told India Today.
The protests were spearheaded by prominent wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik. Sakshi Malik, India’s sole female Olympic wrestling medalist, retired from the sport following Sanjay Singh’s appointment. Vinesh Phogat, who competed in the women’s 50kg category, faced a contentious outcome. She was disqualified for exceeding the permissible weight limit by 100 grams, which led to her retirement amidst ongoing controversy. Phogat’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to retain her silver medal is still pending.
Apart from Sehrawat and Phogat, other Indian wrestlers—Anshu Malik (57kg), Reetika Hooda (76kg), Nisha Dahiya (68kg), and Antim Panghal (53kg)—were unable to make a significant impact at the Games. The WFI’s current focus is on assessing the implications of the protests and strategizing for future international competitions.
