New Delhi (TIP)- Holding up banners reading ‘UWW, save our wrestling from these 3 wrestlers,’ young wrestlers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh voiced their grievances at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Wednesday, January 3. They chanted slogans against Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat, whom they alleged were hindering their wrestling careers. The junior wrestlers claimed that protests held last year, over accusations of sexual harassment against Ex WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh have led to the loss of a crucial year in their sporting journeys.
The tumult in the wrestling fraternity stemmed from the suspension of the newly-elected wrestling body by the ministry, citing alleged improprieties linked to Brij Bhushan’s associate, Sanjay Singh. Amidst the turmoil, the Ministry of Sports has established an ad-hoc panel on December 27 to stir the sport.
Since January 2023, the wrestling landscape has been mired in a standstill, with national camps and competitions put on indefinite hold due to the WFI’s dual suspensions, the protestors claimed. Lakshmi from Mathura who has been practising the sport for the last 5 years said, “Senior wrestlers should support and foster promotion of the sport, instead they are discouraging it…No championships have taken place since last one year, do they expect us to reach the Olympics without participating in championships?”
“Wrestling has come to a halt since the protests last year. I was set to compete at the under-15 nationals, and many of us had diligently prepared for it. Why are they denying young wrestlers the opportunity?” asked 15-year-old Anushka Pandit, who joined the protest from Dadri, Uttar Pradesh.
The ad-hoc panel, managing wrestling affairs in the country, on Wednesday announced organisation of U15 and U20 National championships within six weeks, hours after junior wrestlers held a protest.
Source: The Indian Express