However, the Indian wrestlers will be permitted to take part at the Asian Wrestling Championships 2023 despite India's rights being stripped.
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The Asian Wrestling Championships 2023, which were scheduled to take place from March 28 to April 2, 2023, will no longer be held in India. According to the Times of India, the United World Wrestling (UWW), intends to shift the competition outside of India. UWW is the organization responsible for overseeing the sport of amateur wrestling across the gold. However, the Indian wrestlers will be permitted to take part in the competition after the announcement of a new host city is made. This is due to sexual harassment allegations levelled against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
The Sports Ministry formed an Oversight Committee designated to oversee WFI’s daily operations had previously requested for the event to be postponed because of its closeness to the Women’s World Boxing Championships 2023. India was also given the hosting rights for the boxing championships, slated to begin from March 15 to March 31, 2023. The UWW, on the other hand, denied the request, citing a formal complaint received by wrestlers against the WFI President as one of the grounds. The ongoing inquiry into the matter that has been going on against Brij Bhusan could also be the other potential explanation.
Read more: United World Wrestling (UWW) Calendar 2023: Know the Important Events for the Upcoming Year
On January 18, a protest took place at the Jantar Mantar of Delhi. Many prominent wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Sangeeta Phogat, and others, were present. Wrestlers said that there had been instances of sexual harassment, bullying, corruption, and poor administration. On January 20, the protest was suspended after Brij Bhusan Sharan Singh resigned as the president. The Sports Ministry assured the athletes that a thorough investigation into the incident will take place. A seven-member committee was established to look into the charges of sexual harassment made against WFI and its leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh during the Indian Olympic Association’s Executive Council Meeting.
The first Asian Wrestling Championships were held in India in 1979, with Jalandhar serving as the host city. It was held once in Mumbai, in 1987. Indian wrestlers earned 17 medals, including one gold, five silver, and eleven bronze medals at the most recent Asian Championships, which were held in Mongolia last year. Ravi Kumar Dahiya, who finished second in the Tokyo 2020 competition, took home India’s lone gold medal. While Bajrang Punia, a four-time World Championships medalist, had to settle for the silver. With 21 medals, including 10 gold medals, Japan led the field in the medal count. Iran finished second with 17 honors, including 10 golds.
Read more: National Wrestling Championships 2022: Women’s Freestyle Wrestling Results
