In January this yr, wrestlers led an enormous protest demanding motion in opposition to Brij Bhushan
New Delhi:
Prime athletes have welcomed the Sports activities Ministry’s transfer to droop the newly elected administration of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), however additionally they mentioned the motion got here late.
They mentioned the Centre will need to have stepped in earlier and brought sturdy motion in opposition to the WFI for violating the sports activities physique’s guidelines, as an alternative of ready for athletes to announce they’re quitting or returning the Padma Shri.
The newly-elected WFI below Sanjay Singh, a loyalist of sex-harassment accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, had made a hasty announcement of organising the Beneath-15 and Beneath-20 nationals with out giving adequate discover to wrestlers, which violated the WFI’s structure.
Olympian and wrestler Geeta Phogat in a put up on X mentioned she is assured wrestlers will lastly get justice. “Sports Ministry has suspended the Wrestling Federation of India. Even though it is late, there is a ray of hope that wrestlers will get justice,” Ms Phogat mentioned.
खेल मंत्रालय ने भारतीय कुश्ती संघ को निलंबित किया
भले ही देर से पर एक उम्मीद की किरण ज़रूर जागी है की पहलवानों को इंसाफ़ मिलेगा !!!!— geeta phogat (@geeta_phogat) December 24, 2023
Vijender Singh, the primary Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal, who has been supporting the wrestlers’ struggle in opposition to Brij Bhushan, mentioned the Centre ought to have put the hammer down on the WFI a lot earlier.
“They made the woman to quit wrestling, the man to return the Padma Shri, and now they have suspended the wrestling federation. Action should have been taken earlier,” Vijender Singh, who can be a Congress chief, mentioned in a put up on X.
भाई छोरी की कुश्ती छुड़वा दी छोरे के पद्म श्री ले लिया अब बोले की फेडरेशन रद्द करदी 🙄 यो काम पहले ही कर देते
— Vijender Singh (@boxervijender) December 24, 2023
Two prime wrestlers, Bajrang Punia and Virender Singh, have expressed their want to return the Padma Shri in protest in opposition to what they claimed was a brazen present of energy and affect by Brij Bhushan.
— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) December 24, 2023
In protest in opposition to the election of the Brij Bhushan loyalist, wrestler Sakshee Mallikh had introduced she stop the game.
Breaking into tears throughout an interplay with the media three days in the past, Commonwealth and Asian Video games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat alleged that with Sanjay Singh heading the WFI, ladies wrestlers would proceed to face harassment.
In January this yr, three wrestlers led an enormous protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, demanding motion in opposition to Brij Bhushan.
