Wrestling Federation of India upgrades Sushil, Sakshi's contracts after initial 'mistake'

WFI annual contract system: Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, the president of India's wrestling body, conceded they had made a mistake by placing Olympic medallists in Grade B.

Two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar bowed out of Asian Games 2018 after a shock first-round defeat (Reuters Photo)

HIGHLIGHTS

• WFI had initially handed Grade B contracts to Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Sushil Kumar
• Sakshi and Sushil have now joined Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Pooja Dhanda in the top bracket
• Now there is no Grade B in the first-ever annual contract system of the WFI

Days after handing Sakshi Malik and Sushil Kumar Grade B contracts, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has claimed that not placing India's Olympic medallists in the top bracket of the annual contract system is a mistake. Now the two wrestlers' contracts have been upgraded to Grade A.

When the first-ever contract system was rolled out by the WFI last month, only Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Pooja Dhanda were handed Grade A contracts.

WFI president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh even pointed out that Sushil and Sakshi have been handed Grade B contracts and that their contract will be up for review after a year's time during which their performances will be assessed.

The announcement to upgrade their contracts was made by Singh at the launch of Tata Motors Elite Wrestlers Development Programme on Wednesday in Mumbai.

Unanimously agreed that Sakshi and Sushil shouldn't be kept in Grade B: WFI president

"With your support, we implemented the grading system for the players A, B, C, D, E and F grades," Singh said.

"However, during the national championships at Gonda when our full body (organisation members) was present, we realised that players like Sushil, a two-time Olympic medallist, and Sakshi Malik, who gave the country the first medal when India's medal tally (at the Rio Olympics was empty).

"We all unanimously agreed that such players should not be kept in B grade."

Kumar had won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and added another silver medal to his kitty at the London Olympics in 2012. Sakshi earned a bronze medal in the Rio Games two years ago.

"So I would like to admit that it was a mistake (on our part) and we are rectifying the mistake and are now including both the players (Sakshi and Sushil) in the A grade, added the WFI President.

After Singh's announcement in Grade A, there are five wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Pooja Dhanda, Sushil Kumar and Sakshi Malik. The players in Grade A will get Rs 30 lakh annually.

"Players did not complain about it (grades), neither the media did. But we have rectified the mistake," Singh informed.

Now there are no players in Grade B.

There are seven players in Grade C, including Divya Kakran and Ritu Phogat, nine players in Grade D, including Rahul Aware, the Commonwealth Games gold medallist.

Players in Grade C will get Rs 10 lakh annually while those in Grade D will get Rs 5 lakh.

There are four players in Grade E who will get Rs 3 lakh each and U-23 national gold medallists in Grade F, who will be provided Rs 1.20 lakh per annum.