The already existing tussle between three state Olympic associations in Haryana and now the formation of the second wrestling association has created a new controversy. This association is under the chairmanship of Haryana’s Sports Minister Sandeep Singh. The biggest bone of contention is that which team of Haryana will participate in National Games to be held in Gujarat from 27 September to 10 October. Haryana unit of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) headed by Rohtas Singh declared the team after trial and now a new association has also declared names of wrestlers after trial on Monday.
This contention in the state has become high profile as there is BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on one side and Sandeep Singh and Tirath Rana on the other front. Tirth Rana is also a well-known BJP leader who contested for MLA seat from Gohana on BJP ticket. The interesting thing here is that the team created by Minister of State of BJP government also has the support of Deependra Hooda of the former Congress government in the state. According to reliable sources, this matter has reached Home Minister Amit Shah. The WFI backed association has declared the team after the trial for National Games, while the other association also selected the team after the trial in Panchkula. When asked about this to association’s general secretary and former wrestler Tirath Rana, he said that it is the responsibility of the state Olympics association to send the team to the National Games. Sandeep Singh is the president of the state Olympics Association and he is also the President of the newly elected association, so only his selected team will get recognition in these games. It is worth noting that Indian Olympic Association (IOA) organizes the National Games.
The dispute between three Olympic associations in the state has been in the court for a long time. Secondly, the President of Wrestling Association of India Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has announced in Sonipat during the trials of World Championship that only the association formed under the leadership of Rohtas Singh is an authentic body of the state and in the trial of the other association is illegal. It is also worth mentioning here that the wrestlers who were called for trials in Panchkula on Monday, have been invited by the Haryana Olympic Association. Although this association has also conducted trials on 31 August and 9th September, but due to non-availability of sufficient number of wrestlers, it was organized once again on Monday.
Tirath Rana argues that in 2007 Guwahati National Games, the Haryana Olympic Association under the leadership of Abhay Singh Chautala had sent the state team to this event. At that time, Sukhbir Singh was the secretary of Haryana Wrestling Association. He said that only that association which is recognized by the WFI has the right to send the team. Then such a dispute came to the fore, but today there are three Olympic associations in the state. Of course, the State Olympic Association spends all the expenses on the players of its state and it is also his responsibility to send the team, but in the provisions of the IOA it is also written that for this it will also be necessary to take the approval of the concerned sports association.