Chennai
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) was left stunned after the US Embassy in New Delhi sought clarification over a wrestling coach who claimed to have the federation’s sponsorship for a training camp in the United States, triggering suspicions of forgery and a possible illegal immigration racket.
According to sources, the Consular Section of the US Embassy contacted the WFI regarding a visa application submitted by one Sandeep, son of Bijender Singh. The applicant claimed that he had been sponsored by the WFI to attend a training camp scheduled from January 10 to 28 at the Mat Sense Academy in the US.
Documents submitted with the visa application included a sponsorship letter on WFI letterhead, purportedly signed by joint secretary R K Purushotham. The letter claimed that the federation would bear Sandeep’s travel, accommodation, training fees and daily allowance. Sandeep also stated that he was working as a wrestling coach with the Sports Authority of India.
The sponsorship letter further listed three others — Sunil (coach), Anshu (wrestler) and Rajan (physiotherapist) — as part of the same delegation.
WFI chief Sanjay Kumar Singh categorically denied any such authorisation. “We have informed the US Embassy that the person is neither empanelled as a coach with the WFI nor with the world body, United World Wrestling. It also appears that the federation’s letterhead has been forged,” Singh said.
In its official response to the embassy, the WFI clarified that as per federation rules, only the president, secretary general and administrative officers are authorised to sign official correspondence. “The Wrestling Federation of India has not issued any letter sponsoring or supporting the participation of Mr. Sandeep in any capacity,” the reply stated.
The federation has also sought CCTV images of the individual, if available, from the embassy visit. “This is a clear case of forgery and hints at an illegal immigration scam. If required, we will lodge a police complaint,” Singh added.
An online search revealed that the Mat Sense Academy is a private training centre located in Corvallis, Oregon. The forged letter claimed the visit was part of a high-performance programme under WFI’s official development plan — a claim the federation has firmly denied.
