Age Fraud In Action? WFI Bars U-17 Wrestler Over Dual Birth Certificates

Last Updated:April 28, 2026, 14:08 IST

WFI barred a U-17 wrestler after two birth certificates from different states surfaced, raising concerns over age verification and gaps in document checks across authorities.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) barred an under-17 wrestler from competing on the opening day of the National Championships in Sambhaji Nagar after discrepancies emerged in her birth documents, raising fresh concerns over age verification in junior competitions.

The wrestler, whose name has been withheld, had entered the women’s 57kg category representing Madhya Pradesh. During routine scrutiny, officials found that her father had submitted two separate birth certificates issued by different states.

One certificate, issued in Madhya Pradesh, listed her date of birth as August 26, 2010, but showed a registration and issue date of November 16, 2021 — over a decade after the birth. The document cited an address in Sheopur district and was generated through a gram panchayat office.

When questioned about the delay, the father produced a second certificate from Rajasthan. That document also recorded August 26, 2010, as the date of birth, with registration dated September 1, 2010, in Sriganganagar, and the place of birth listed as a private nursing home. However, this certificate itself was issued much later, in April 2025.

The father maintained there was no manipulation, explaining that a fresh certificate had been obtained in Madhya Pradesh after the family relocated, allowing the wrestler to represent the state.

WFI officials, however, denied her entry, citing concerns over how multiple certificates could exist without cross-verification.

“It raises serious concerns. We are expected to ensure strict compliance on age eligibility, but how are such certificates being issued without proper checks?" a WFI official said. “If there is duplication across states, it undermines the entire system."

The federation also pointed to a broader trend it has flagged recently, including cases where wrestlers from Haryana allegedly secured birth certificates from districts in Delhi, prompting renewed calls for tighter checks.

“The government has pushed sports bodies to act firmly against age fraud in age-group competitions; there must also be accountability among civil authorities responsible for issuing birth certificates," the official added.

WFI has now called for stronger coordination between states and more robust verification mechanisms at the point of issuing birth records, highlighting gaps that extend beyond sport into administrative processes.

(with PTI inputs)

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