Sanjay Singh leads the suspended Wrestling Federation of India and is viewed as a front for Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused of sexual harassment by leading female wrestlers. The Varanasi loyalist has gone ahead to conduct a Senior Nationals at Pune by gathering lesser-known wrestlers from 24 state units, defying the Sports Ministry orders and calling the ad hoc committee’s Jaipur Nationals a mistake.

He is confident he will convince the government to revoke their suspension and will be back calling the shots in “10 days.”

The WFI though was chastised enough to set up a sexual harassment committee, and Singh says he will engage with wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, and Sakshi Mallik while maintaining that they will find redressal to their complaints only in courts. He insists Brij Bhushan Singh Sharan has not even a paisa invested in wrestling anymore, but is free to run his academy in UP.

Excerpts from an interview:

How did your association with wrestling start?

It started as a district official in Benaras in 2008. Wrestling was a hobby. In 2009, I became a vice president of UP wrestling. And after 2011 I was joint secretary of WFI. I wasn’t a wrestler myself, but my father used to organise mud dangals.

Your federation is suspended by the Ministry. How do you propose to move ahead?

We are talking to the government and will convince them their ad hoc committee decision is wrong. Our efforts are on to end this and in 10 days we will be back in power.

What do you plan to do about the Olympics, given much is expected out of wrestling?

There are two Olympic qualifying events left. The winners of the Pune Nationals will be called to a camp. Then we’ll conduct trials and send them to the qualifiers. I’m confident 4-5 more wrestlers will qualify. Antim Panghal has already qualified.

4-5 more in men and women?

Yes, women also.

What about the winners of the Jaipur Nationals?

Our winners come from 25 state units, and there are wrestlers who need jobs and our certificates will help them. Those who are already employed with Railways and Services already have jobs and didn’t need to compete here so they didn’t care. In all this, the ones suffering are wrestlers competing in Pune. But I promise that those who go for the Olympics will be from the Pune Nationals only.

But the ad hoc committee is mandated by the Ministry and government?

The ad hoc committee decisions are all wrong. Their existence is against the rules and they exist without permission of the federation. We will happily welcome good wrestlers, even those from Jaipur once we resume the reins.

Global wrestling has moved ahead scientifically. Indian wrestling is still stuck in backward times. Also, last Olympics under Brij Bhushan, the support staff for female wrestlers was neglected and inadequate.

We will appoint physios for chet-chapet (niggles). There will be adequate female physios for women wrestlers. We are also in talks with foreign coaches. And we will send wrestlers abroad for four months. Wrestling won’t stop no matter what. We are confident of resolving this without going the legal route. We are in contact with the government. We won’t disappoint at the Olympics.

Do you wish to say anything to the aggrieved wrestlers fighting the battle against Brij Bhushan?

I wish to tell them you can’t achieve everything by becoming adhyaksh (leader). They should join us, and guide the youngsters, in an advisory capacity. We’ll welcome them.

But what if they want to compete and play? Quality-wise they are still better than most wrestlers here.

Well, they can also practice. But come into the camp giving trials. Follow the rules, and don’t steal someone else’s rights and fair spot.

What will be your preferred mode of Olympic qualification?

Since there’s no time left for trials, those who win quotas only will be sent to the Olympics. But we’ll discuss it again at our Executive Committee.

There are serious concerns about Brij Bhushan still being involved with wrestling. Can’t you distance yourself from him completely to allay fears?

He is just an ex-president. There’s no interference from him. No involvement of even one paisa. He’s taken Sanyaas from wrestling. He of course runs his private wrestling academy in Uttar Pradesh and we can’t stop him. There’s no involvement as an office bearer.

After he was accused of serious sexual harassment by genuine champions like Sakshi and Vinesh, do you think there are concerns from girls and their parents about getting into wrestling?

Yes, there are safety concerns. But that’s why we’ve appointed a sexual harassment committee at WFI. It also has Monicaji from an NGO who’s the chairperson. Five women wrestlers have competed internationally in World wrestling. We are trying to ensure that girls can trust us again. If they can regain their old form, we will welcome all past women wrestlers and ensure no one is treated unjustly.

How do you look back at the time since your election as president?

We’ve lost 1.5 months, but 25 state units are with me. And all the wrestling kids trust me and have hopes for me. The likes of Vinesh, Sakshi and Bajrang can fight their battles in the court. If they want to do politics, they can fight elections. But if their heart is really in wrestling, they can come back to us. You can ask anyone – or they can tell me if I’ve ever misbehaved with anyone. If they accuse me of being close to the former president, it’s because I was office bearer for 12 years, and he for 15. I can say, if I’m considered close to him, weren’t they also close? And on Brij Bhushan’s happy birthday, hundreds of people wished him with bouquets. Does it mean they are all his kareebi (close to him)? I will make sure I put an end to this confusion.

Besides being interested in wrestling, do you have a proper profession?

I’m originally a farmer, and to feed my family, a small-time businessman.

Do you plan to expand wrestling to cities and encourage it in colleges like in the USA so this sport is not stuck?

SAI is there to take care of city centres. I want to revive the old village akhadas.

But that’s again going back and nothing new?

I want to restore rural akhadas to its former glory.

What’s your view on personal coaches appointed by NGOs who brought Olympics success to India but were opposed by the last dispensation?

We’ll set up a committee to look into that.

How many Olympic medals can India win in Paris?

If I’m given a free rein, we will win 4 at least.