WFI-affiliated Haryana wrestling body suspends three members, bans ‘akhara’ in Hisar for supporting protesting grapplers

Deepender Deswal

Hisar, May 6

The Haryana Amateur Wrestling Association (HAWA) affiliated to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has suspended three members of the HAWA — one in each Jhajjar, Hisar and Mewat districts for their alleged involvement in the agitation against president of the WFI Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

In a letter (a copy with The Tribune), HAWA state president Rohtas Singh issued order to suspend three members Virender Singh Dalal in Jhajjar, Sanjay Singh Malik in Hisar and Jai Bhagwan in Mewat. They are secretaries of the district units in their respective districts.

The order stated: “You are still continuing your activities with the protesters which is purely non ethical and against the objectives, rules and regulations of the WFI. Therefore, the district associations are requested to not to involve them in any activities organised on behalf of HAWA because they have been suspended and no activities will be conducted in their akharas/academies/schools.”

The HAWA issued another order to ban Ajay Singh Dhanda and Jai Bhagwan Lathar who are sanchalaks (managers) of the Saheed Bhagat Singh Wrestling Academy at Mirchpur village in Hisar.

The HAWA stated that the academy and both the sanchalaks have been banned with immediate effect. “The District Units of the HAWA are advised to not to involve them in any activities organised on behalf of HAWA because they are having nursery/centre from Haryana Sports Department as well as SAI but misrouting the young wrestlers for their personal vested interest instead of giving them proper regular practice. Now they are taking the young children/wrestler at protest place along with them,” the letter stated.

The HAWA letter stated, “In spite of our earlier letter dated March 28, 2023, you are still playing your part very actively in non-ethical negative politics and anti WFI and anti HAWA objectives and activities.”