WFI Grants Second Chance to Suspended Wrestlers
In a significant development for Indian wrestling, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has officially revoked the suspensions of Olympic medalist Aman Sehrawat and junior wrestler Neha Sangwan. Both athletes had been barred from competition after failing to meet weight requirements at international championships in 2023.
The Road to Suspension and Redemption
The disciplinary action against the wrestlers stemmed from separate incidents during major international tournaments. Aman Sehrawat faced suspension after being declared overweight during the World Championships held in Zagreb this September. Meanwhile, Neha Sangwan received disciplinary action following her disqualification from the Junior Worlds in Samokov in August for similar weight-related issues.
The federation had issued formal show-cause notices to both athletes, with Aman receiving his on September 22 and Neha on August 25. According to WFI records, the wrestlers submitted their written responses on September 28 and September 18 respectively. Coaching staff present at the Zagreb event also received formal notices as part of the investigation.
Disciplinary Committee Recommends Leniency
During their written submissions, both wrestlers acknowledged this marked their first violation of weight management protocols and gave assurances that such incidents would not recur. The WFI Disciplinary Committee convened on November 13 to thoroughly review their cases and responses.
After careful consideration, the committee decided to recommend leniency, taking into account the athletes' strong international performance records and their clean disciplinary history. Following this recommendation, WFI president Sanjay Kumar Singh officially ordered the lifting of their suspensions, effectively clearing them to participate in all upcoming wrestling events.
Return to Competitive Wrestling
The federation's decision comes with a stern warning that any future violations concerning weight management or discipline would result in stricter disciplinary action. With their suspensions now lifted, both wrestlers become eligible to participate in the highly anticipated upcoming Pro Wrestling League auction, marking their official return to competitive wrestling.
This development represents a crucial second chance for both athletes as they prepare to resume their wrestling careers on the national stage, with the Pro Wrestling League offering them a platform to demonstrate their renewed commitment to the sport.
