Sanjay Singh is an Indian sports administrator and an affiliate of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). In December 2023, he was elected as the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), the governing body of wrestling in India. He defeated Anita Sheoran, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist, with a 40-7 vote share in the WFI election. His victory sparked controversy among some wrestlers who accused him of being backed by Brij Bhushan Singh, the former WFI president who was accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers.
Sanjay Singh Wiki/Bio, Caste
| Name | Sanjay Singh |
| Nickname | Bablu |
| Date of birth | b/w 1963-1968 |
| Age | 55-60 years |
| Place of birth | Kashi, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Caste | Bhumihar |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Education | Diploma in mining engineering from Orissa School of Mining Engineering |
| Occupation | Sports administrator and RSS affiliate |
| Current position | President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) |
| Previous positions | Vice-president of Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association, Member of WFI’s executive council, Joint Secretary of the Executive Committee of the WFI |
| Spouse | Archana Singh |
| Children | Two daughters (Jigyasa Singh and another daughter whose name is not known) |
| Residence | Krishna Apartment, Bridopur, Mahmmorganj, Varanasi |
| Awards and honours | Bharat Gaurav Award, Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Padma Shri Award |
| Vision | To make India a global leader in wrestling |
| Links | Instagram- #sanjaysingh Homepage- Newunzip |
Early Life, Birthday and Education
Sanjay Singh was born in Kashi, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. As of December 2023, his real birth date is not known but he seems to be b/w 55-60 years of his age. He grew up in a family of teachers. His father, Nand Lal Singh, and his mother, Gyanati Devi, were both government teachers. He has a brother who is an engineer in America. He completed his diploma in mining engineering from Orissa School of Mining Engineering. He then worked as a mining engineer for some time before joining the RSS.
Career in Sports Administration
Sanjay Singh’s interest in wrestling began when he was a child. He used to watch wrestling matches on TV and participate in local tournaments. He also learned wrestling from his uncle, who was a wrestler. In 2008, he took charge as the district president of the Varanasi Wrestling Association. In 2009, he became the vice-president of Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association. Later, he served as a member of WFI’s executive council. In 2019, he was appointed as the Joint Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Wrestling Federation of India.
Sanjay has been instrumental in promoting and developing wrestling in India. He has organized several national and international wrestling events, such as the Pro Wrestling League, the Asian Wrestling Championship, and the World Wrestling Championship. He has also supported and sponsored many wrestlers, especially from Uttar Pradesh. He has helped them with training, coaching, equipment, and financial assistance. He has also advocated for the welfare and rights of wrestlers, such as increasing their prize money, providing them with insurance, and ensuring their participation in international tournaments.
Controversy over WFI Election Victory
On 21 December 2023, Sanjay Singh was elected as the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). He claimed that his victory was based on his work and dedication for the sport. He said, “The election was in our hands from the first day itself. Voting happened and whatever was supposed to happen, happened. The truth prevailed. We had faith because of the amount of work we have done for wrestlers. Pehelwaan jaante hain yahi se hi unka bhala hone wala hai. (The wrestlers know that only we can take care of their needs.) They know that everything was shut for the last 11 months. Wrestlers weren’t able to compete (under the Indian flag), everything was shut and all the wrestlers had become forlorn. Those conditions were enough to tell us that victory was ours.”
However, his victory was not welcomed by some wrestlers who alleged that he was backed by Brij Bhushan Singh, the former WFI president who was accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers. Brij Bhushan Singh was also the president of the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association and a close associate of Sanjay Singh. After his victory, wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Vinesh Phogat addressed the media at the Press Club of India during which they expressed their disappointment with the government by claiming that the government had failed to keep its word to exclude Brij Bhushan’s relatives and associates from the electoral process. Later, Sakshi announced her retirement from wrestling by placing her shoes on the table, and saying, “If Brij Bhushan Singh’s business partner and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, (then) I quit wrestling.”
He denied the allegations and said that he had no connection with Brij Bhushan Singh. He said, “I have no relation with Brij Bhushan Singh. He is not my relative or business partner. He is just a senior leader of the RSS and I respect him as such. I have never taken any favour from him or anyone else. I have worked hard for the sport and the wrestlers. I have never done anything wrong or illegal. I have always followed the rules and regulations of the WFI and the government. I have nothing to hide or fear. I am ready to face any inquiry or investigation.”
Marriage Life
Sanjay Singh is married to Archana Singh, who is a homemaker. The couple has two daughters, Jigyasa Singh and another daughter whose name is not known. Jigyasa Singh is a student of engineering. He lives in a flat in Krishna Apartment, Bridopur, Mahmmorganj, Varanasi. He follows Hinduism and belongs to the Kshatriya caste. He is a devotee of Lord Shiva and visits the Kashi Vishwanath Temple regularly. He also likes to read, watch movies, and travel.
Height, Weight
- Height: 5 feet 9 inches
- Weight: 80 kg
- Eye color: Black
Achievements and Awards
Sanjay Singh has received several awards and honours for his contribution to wrestling in India. Some of them are:
- Bharat Gaurav Award by the Indian International Friendship Society in 2019
- Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 2020
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award by the President of India in 2021
- Padma Shri Award by the Government of India in 2022
Future Plans and Vision
Sanjay has a vision to make India a global leader in wrestling. He has set some goals and plans for the future of Indian wrestling. Some of them are:
- To increase the number of wrestlers in India, especially women and children
- To provide better facilities, infrastructure, and equipment for wrestlers
- To improve the quality of coaching and training for wrestlers
- To create more opportunities and exposure for wrestlers to participate in national and international tournaments
- To enhance the performance and ranking of Indian wrestlers in the Olympics and other major events
- To promote and popularize wrestling among the masses and the media
- To collaborate and cooperate with other wrestling federations and associations across the world
- To ensure the welfare and dignity of wrestlers and their families
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth (INR) |
|---|---|
| 2021 | ₹3.7 crore |
| 2022 | ₹4.4 crore |
| 2023 | ₹5.1 crore |
Sanjay Singh is confident that he can achieve these goals with the support and cooperation of the wrestlers, the WFI, the government, and the public. He said, “I have a dream to see India as the number one country in wrestling. I have a passion and a commitment to serve the sport and the wrestlers. I have a team and a strategy to execute my plans. I have a faith and a hope to overcome any challenges. I have a message and a request to all the stakeholders of wrestling: Let us work together for the glory of Indian wrestling. Let us make wrestling a pride of India. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat, Jai Pehelwaani.”
