This time, hundreds of wrestlers protest against Bajrang, Sakshi, and Vinesh
New Delhi: Hundreds of junior wrestlers gathered at Jantar Mantar in Delhi today to voice their displeasure over losing a pivotal year of their careers, a situation they attributed to top grapplers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat. This development added a new dimension to the ongoing crisis in Indian wrestling.
The young wrestlers surprised the police by arriving from various regions of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi, loaded onto busses.
Many of them were from the Virender Wrestling Academy in Narela, and about 300 of them were from the Arya Samaj Akhara in Chhaprauli, Baghpat. Many are still crammed on buses, and when more wrestlers show up at the historic protest location, they want to get out and join their comrades.
They sang anti-Bajrang Punia, anti-Sakhim Malik, and anti-Vinesh Phogat chants, making it difficult for the security guards to keep them under control.
The slogan “UWW save our wrestling from these 3 wrestlers” was flown by the demonstrators.
Strangely, the top three wrestlers at the same protest location about a year ago were able to mobilize a sizable crowd in favor of their cause when they demanded the arrest of former WFI leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on charges of harassing women wrestlers sexually.
Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia received the support of thousands of individuals from many segments of society, such as farmers’ organizations, social workers, legislators, women’s groups, and members of the wrestling fraternity.
Massive demonstrations against the three wrestlers are now taking place in their hometown, with supporters gathered at Jantar Mantar accusing them of destroying their careers.
National teams and tournaments have not taken place since January 2023 since the WFI has been banned twice and the sport is being governed by an ad hoc commission.
Protesters on Wednesday called for the reinstatement of the suspended WFI after the dissolution of the ad hoc panel that the sports ministry had designated to oversee the sport.
