"Stop Communications With Indian Wrestling Federation," World Wrestling Body Asks Affiliated National Federations

In the wake of India’s denial of visa to the Pakistani shooters, the United World Wrestling (UWW) has asked all its associated and affiliated national federations to “stop communications” with the Wrestling Federation of India.

Recently, the International Olympic Committee had also suspended discussions with India for hosting future global events.

UWW asks affiliated nations to stop communication

“UWW recommends to all the affiliated and associated national wrestling federations to suspend their discussions or relations with the Indian wrestling federation,” said the letter written by UWW to all national federations, as reported by Scroll. The letter further said that India’s behaviour is against the Olympic principle of non-discrimination against any athlete. Brij Bhusan Saran Singh, the WFI president said that he is yet to see the letter and said that he would be commenting only after that.

The immediate repercussion of this decision will be on the hosting of Junior Asian Championships, the tournament which was scheduled to be hosted at Lebanon between July 9-14. However, after Lebanon showed the inability to hold the junior event, the same was offered to India by UWW-Asia. Now, given that both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and UWW have restricted India’s role, it is unlikely that the event would be hosted here.

IOC stops talks of hosting Olympic events in India

On February 22, the International Olympic Commission announced the suspension of all discussions with India regarding hosting any future sports and Olympic-related events in the country.

This announcement came after India failed to grant visas to a three-member Pakistan team for the shooting World Cup which began in New Delhi on February 23. IOC had to revoke two Olympic quotas from the 25m rapid fire pistol in which the said Pakistani shooters were to participate. India’s denial came in the aftermath of Pulwama terror attack.

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