Delhi High Court Rejects Top Wrestlers’ Challenge to Wrestling Federation Elections
Court dismisses petitions by Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, and others over contested WFI election process.
The Delhi High Court has dismissed petitions filed by prominent Indian wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Satyawart Kadian, who challenged the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) December 2023 elections. The court noted that the petitioners repeatedly failed to appear for hearings, leading to the dismissal of their claims for non-prosecution.
The wrestlers had alleged irregularities and procedural lapses in the WFI election process, raising concerns about fairness and transparency. Their legal challenge followed intense protests by top athletes earlier in 2023 demanding greater accountability and reforms within the federation’s leadership.
Justice Mini Pushkarna, presiding over the matter, highlighted that none of the petitioners were present during the proceedings on November 27 and the two prior hearing dates. The court concluded that the petitioners showed no interest in continuing the legal action, which resulted in the petitions being dismissed in default.
Also Read: Parliament’s Winter Session Begins Tomorrow, Opposition Poised to Challenge Govt on SIR
The elections had seen Sanjay Singh elected as WFI President, defeating Anita Sheoran, the candidate supported by the trio of Olympians. This verdict effectively ends the court’s involvement in the election dispute, though discussions about governance reform in Indian wrestling continue.
Also Read: Tamil Nadu Opposition Unites to Challenge EC Voter Roll Revision Ahead of 2026 Polls
