Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Jan 18: Country’s top wrestlers, including a bronze medalist from the Tokyo Olympics Bajrang Punia and medalists from the world championship Vinesh Phogat, mounted an unprecedented protest on Wednesday against the ‘dictatorship’ of national federation President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The wrestlers did not go into great depth about their complaints or requests, but it was obvious that they are dissatisfied with the way Singh, a BJP MP from Kaiserganj, is running the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
Thirty wrestlers have gathered at Jantar Mantar, including Bajrang, Vinesh, CWG medalist Sumit Malik, Sangeeta Phogat, Sarita Mor, Satyawart Malik, Rio Olympics medalist Sakshi Malik, and Jitender Kinha.
“Our fight is not against the government or Sports Authority of India (SAI). This is against WFI. We will share details later in the day. ‘Yeh ab aar paar ki ladai hai’ (It’s a fight to the finish),” Bajrang Punia told PTI.
We want that the management of the Wrestling Federation of India to be changed. We hope the Prime Minister and Home Minister will support us: Olympian wrestler Bajrang Punia pic.twitter.com/VgOo4aRm3n
— ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2023
“After the Tokyo Olympics defeat, WFI President called me ‘khota sikka’. WFI mentally tortured me. I used to think of ending my life each day. If anything happens to any wrestler, then the responsibility will on WFI president,” said Wrestler Vinesh Phogat.
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Bajrang’s support staff, including his coach Sujeet Mann and physio Anand Dubey have also joined the protest.
Since 2011, Singh has been in charge. In February 2019, he was chosen to lead WFI for the third time in a row.
Along similar lines, Anshu Malik, Sangeeta Phogat, and other wrestlers tweeted using the hashtag #BoycottWFIPresident and included the PMO, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah in their mentions.
