New WFI Secy Gen Lochab violated WFI constitution, says Darshan La

New Delhi: Prem Chand Lochab's election to secretary general's post is in violation of WFI's constitution and he is now preventing the growth of wrestling in the country by demanding a postponement of the junior Nationals, said Darshan Lal, who had lost to him in the recent polls, on Saturday.

Newly-elected Wrestling Federation of India President Sanjay Singh had on Friday announced that the U15 and U20 Nationals will be held from December 28-30 in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh.

However, Lochab said the WFI chief didn't follow the rules while announcing the dates and requested to postpone it.

"While the protestors say that we are fighting to save and promote wrestling, on the other hand, as soon as Mr Sanjay Singh, President, of Wrestling Federation of India, issued a circular for organizing the U-20 and U-15 National Wrestling Competition, these protestors again tried to stop wrestling through General Secretary Mr Prem Chand Lochab," said Lal.

"In the letter written by Shri Lochab, he requested the president to postpone the organization of these competitions at the behest of the protesting wrestlers.

"Perhaps Lochab ji does not know about wrestling because the president does not want these wrestlers to lose time as 2023 is their last year and on January 1, 2024, these wrestlers will not be eligible to participate in these age groups."

In the elections held on Thursday, former Railways Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) Secretary Lochab had won from the rival faction led by Commonwealth Games gold medallist wrestler Anita Sheoran and backed by the protesting wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik. (PTI)