No bar on Indian wrestlers: UWW

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 6

United World Wrestling (UWW), wrestling’s global governing body, has said that there is no threat to the participation of Indian wrestlers at international competitions. UWW president Nenad Lalovic clarified this in a statement today. This ends speculation about Indian wrestlers’ participation in international competitions after UWW wrote to its members to “suspend relations” with the Indian federation.

“I would like to clarify United World Wrestling’s position in response to the recent news report pertaining to the Wrestling Federation of India. United World Wrestling this week sent a letter to all its national federations to communicate that following recent world sporting events, current climate in India is sensitive for hosting competitions,” he said.

“The standard protocol for all UWW events is for host nations and organizing committees to allow willing and eligible nations is able to participate in our events. This has not changed and the communication is not exceptional. Also, in no way was the communication meant to impact any Indian wrestlers seeking to compete at upcoming UWW events as they are unaffected,” Lalovic added.

Lalovic also spoke to Indian referee Ashok Kumar to personally clarify that Indian wrestlers are not barred from events.

Confusion

UWW’s earlier letter to its member associations had caused confusion in India. It was sent in the wake of two Pakistani shooters not being given visas by India for the shooting World Cup in New Delhi. 

The March 4 letter, in reference to the rejection of visas to Pakistani shooters, had said that “this behavior is against the main principle of the Olympic Charter”. “...United World Wrestling recommends to all the affiliated or associated national wrestling federations to suspend their discussions or relations with the Indian Wrestling Federation until written guarantees will be obtained from Indian government,” the letter added.

Following this, many Indian wrestlers and coaches believed they would not be allowed to participate in UWW events or go for training stints abroad.