The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elected its new office bearers as mandated by the government guidelines on age and tenure with the top four positions going to former international wrestlers.
Newly-elected secretary-general Raj Singh said that the polls were held as per the guidelines issued by the sports ministry.
Dushyant Sharma, 45, was elected president.
"Elections were held in accordance with the government guidelines.
"It is for the first time that all four top positions will be taken up by former wrestlers," Singh added.
Sharma, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, defeated former secretary-general Kartar Singh 41-34 in the race for the top spot. Eighty votes were cast.
Hamza-Bin-Omer was elected vice-president, while Raj Singh pipped ID Nanawati for the post of secretary-general.
The new president is said to be close to the outgoing president GS Mander.
"Since all of us have played the sport, it can only come in handy while running the federation," Singh said.
Asked about the immediate plans of the federation, Singh added, "Our immediate aim is to prepare the wrestlers for the 2012 London Olympics Games, and in order to do that, we have sent a letter to the sports ministry for sending the top grapplers to the Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan next month," said Singh.
{{/usCountry}}Asked about the immediate plans of the federation, Singh added, "Our immediate aim is to prepare the wrestlers for the 2012 London Olympics Games, and in order to do that, we have sent a letter to the sports ministry for sending the top grapplers to the Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan next month," said Singh.
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