New Delhi: Olympians Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and others have been protesting for several weeks now, demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for sexual harassment allegations levelled against him. Singh has been accused of sexual harassment by seven women wrestlers, including a minor.
The protesting wrestlers have also announced that they will go on a hunger strike ‘until death’ at the India Gate in Delhi. In the past month, however, only a handful of sportspersons have come out in support of the wrestlers’ protest.
We take a look at some of the sports icons who have lent their voice to the protesting wrestlers.
Athlete Neeraj Chopra, who had earlier tweeted in support of the wrestlers, also condemned their detention by the Delhi Police on 28 May.
यह देखकर मुझे बहुत दुख हो रहा है | There has to be a better way to deal with this. https://t.co/M2gzso4qjX
— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) May 28, 2023
Chopra was also among the first sportspersons to extend solidarity to the wrestlers. He took to Twitter in April, requesting authorities to “take quick action” so that “justice” was served to the wrestlers.
— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) April 28, 2023
Former tennis player Sania Mirza said it was “time to stand” with the wrestlers. She also wrote how, as an athlete and a woman, the protest has been “too difficult to watch”.
As an athlete but more as a woman this is too difficult to watch .. they’ve brought laurels to our country and we have all celebrated them , with them .. if you have done that then it’s time to now stand with them in this difficult time too .. this is a highly sensitive matter… pic.twitter.com/7mVVyz1Dr1
— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) April 28, 2023
Cricketers Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev, Virendra Sehwag and Irfan Pathan, Olympian Abhinav Bindra, double world championship gold medallist Nikhat Zareen, and field hockey player Rani Rampal have also expressed support for the wrestlers who were on a sit-in protest at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
Sakshi, Vinesh are India's pride. I am pained as a sportsperson to find pride of our country coming out to protest on the streets. I pray that they get justice.#IStandWithWrestlers pic.twitter.com/hwD9dKSFNv
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) April 28, 2023
Bindra and Chopra are the only Olympic gold medallists who have come out in support of the wrestlers. Bindra said that he was haunted by “haunted by horrifying images” after the Delhi Police Sunday detained Phogat, Malik and Punia for violation of law and order after they tried to move towards the new Parliament building.
Last night was sleepless, haunted by the horrifying images of my fellow Indian wrestlers protesting. It's high time we establish independent safeguarding measures across sporting organizations. We must ensure that if such situations arise, they are dealt with utmost sensitivity…
— Abhinav A. Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) May 29, 2023
Kumble also tweeted saying, “Anything can be resolved through proper dialogue”.
Dismayed to hear about what transpired on the 28th of May with our wrestlers being manhandled. Anything can be resolved through proper dialogue. Hoping for a resolution at the earliest.
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) May 30, 2023
The wrestlers’ protest has also seen support from other sportspersons like boxer Preeti Dahiya, Olympian Shiva Keshavan and footballer Sunil Chhetri.
Also read: Wrestlers pause plan to ‘immerse’ medals in Ganga, give govt 5-day ultimatum over WFI chief