WRESTLING FEDERATION OF INDIA (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Governance)

Context: Recently, the Union sports ministry took action by suspending the newly elected executive committee (EC) of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and instructed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to establish an ad-hoc committee for overseeing the federation's operations.

Wrestling Federation of India (WFI)

• About: The WFI, serves as the governing body for wrestling in India.
• Headquarter: New Delhi, 
• Recognized by: Government of India and the Indian Olympic Association, the WFI holds a significant position in the country's sports landscape.
• Event Organization: The WFI actively organizes a variety of wrestling events, including the Pro Wrestling League, National Wrestling Championship, and Asian Championships, fostering both national and international participation.
• Support for Olympic Athletes: In addition to event organization, the WFI plays a pivotal role in supporting and training Indian wrestlers for their participation in the Olympic Games.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA)

• About: It is the governing body for the Olympic Movement and the Commonwealth Games in India.
• Recognised by: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• Responsibilities:

oThe entity is tasked with the selection of athletes to represent India in the Olympic Games, Asian Games, and various international athletic competitions. 

oIt functions as the Indian Commonwealth Games Association, playing a role in choosing athletes to represent India in the Commonwealth Games and overseeing the management of Indian teams during these events.