IOA to hold WFI elections on July 4; J&K HC judge Mahesh Mittal appointed as returning officer

In another development, IOA has appointed former Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Mahesh Mittal Kumar as the returning officer.

The elections will be conducted at the Special General Meeting of the WFI.

Top wrestlers of the country, including Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat and Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, have been protesting against the WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh and demanding his arrest for allegedly sexually harassing female grapplers.

Following the protest, on the orders of the sports ministry, the IOA had formed a three-member ad hoc committee. On April 27, two members were announced to run the day-to-day affairs of the federation.

Last week, after a meeting with the protesting wrestlers, sports minister Anurag Thakur said a chargesheet in the case into the allegations of sexual harassment against outgoing WFI chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh will be filed by June 15. Thakur had also assured that the elections to the WFI will be held by June 30.He also agreed to the protesting wrestlers’ demand of not allowing Singh and his associates to participate in the election process.