Supreme Court calls sports associations in India 'ailing bodies'

A bench of justices made the observation while hearing a plea filed by the Maharashtra Wrestling Association challenging an order.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday observed that sports associations in India are "ailing bodies".

A bench of justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh made the observation while hearing a plea filed by the Maharashtra Wrestling Association challenging an October 8, 2024, order of the Bombay High Court which dismissed the state body's petition against its de-affiliation by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

"All these sports associations, there is nothing like sports in them. They are all ailing bodies…," the bench observed, as it posted the matter for hearing on March 24.

On January 15, the top court issued notices to the Centre and the WFI, seeking their response on the plea filed by the Maharashtra wrestling body.