UWW wants IOA and WFI to cooperate; still awaiting IOA confirmation ratifying elections
The HinduUnited World Wrestling chief Nenad Lalovic wants all stake-holders, including the WFI and IOA, to co-operate so that Indian grapplers are not inconvenienced by uncertainty prevailing in the sport and can enter international competitions in the crucial Olympic year. Lalovic, in his letter to the IOA ad-hoc panel in-charge of wrestling, said UWW is willing to give recognition to the new Wrestling Federation of India if the Indian Olympic Association gives a “formal confirmation”. READ | Wrestling ad-hoc panel to hold U15, U20 Nationals for 2023 in Jan-Feb this year UWW also said it was “well-informed” about the newly-elected WFI under Sanjay Singh and was waiting for IOA to confirm the results of the elections. The president also said UWW will require a “robust plan” from the stake-holders guaranteeing a “safe environment” where grapplers can report abuse and harassment, and a clear hearing process is in place. “This includes the establishment of instances within the WFI to address concerns of abuse and harassment, in compliance with the Indian laws and policies on safe sport, the training of coaches and athlete support personnel on athletes’ safeguarding, clear and independent channels for athletes to report on any instance of abuse and harassment, clear adjudication and hearing processes with applicable sanctions and the absence of any restriction to refer cases to law enforcement authorities.” Lalovic also asked the WFI to set up an athletes’ commission with 50 percent women for quick redressal of disciplinary issues.