PT Usha assures protesting wrestlers support; 'Der Aaye Durust Aaye' says Bajrang Punia

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president and former athlete PT Usha on Wednesday met the protesting wrestlers at the Jantar Mantar and assured them of support. The former sprinter said she was first an athlete and then an administrator. She had been criticised for being insensitive after terming the protest as “indiscipline.”

Usha had a discussion with the protesting wrestlers and left the protest site without speaking to the media. Later, Bajrang Punia told the media that Usha has assured them that she will help them get justice.

“PT Usha met us and assured her support. She said she is first an athlete and then an administrator. She assured she will help us in getting justice,” Bajrang told the media.

MP in the Rajya Sabha, Usha had come down heavily on the wrestlers for resuming their protest instead of approaching the IOA for their issues.

She said that the wrestlers should have shown some discipline and that they had hurt the country’s image by hitting the streets.

On her comment that the wrestlers lack discipline, Bajrang said, “PT Usha said she was misinterpreted.”

“Initially when she said that, we had felt very bad but then she said that her comments were misinterpreted. She said that she is first an athlete and then an administrator,” said Bajrang, the Tokyo Games bronze medallist.

“We told her that we want justice. We don’t have a fight with the government or opposition or anyone else. We are sitting here for the betterment of wrestling. If this issue is resolved and if the allegations (against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh) are proved then there should be legal action,” he added.

Read: ‘Anurag Thakur tried to hush up the matter’, Vinesh alleges amid protest

Wrestlers have been on protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh since 23 April. The WFI chief has been accused of sexual harassment and intimidation.

This is the second time wrestlers are protesting against the WFI chief. The January protest by wrestlers including Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Asian Games champion Vinesh Phogat was called off after the Sports Ministry created an Oversight Committee to investigate.

#WATCH | Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha reached Delhi’s Jantar Mantar where wrestlers are protesting since 11 days. pic.twitter.com/Vs3Lp1ZHaO

— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2023

After a lack of action, wrestlers hit the road again and this led to the registration of two FIRs against Brij Bhushan last week.

When asked if PT Usha had come with a solution from the government or from the IOA, Punia said, “Nothing of that sort”.

Sakshi said, “She (Usha) said it pains her to see us on the streets and not in the stadium. She said she feels for us, wants us to win more medals for the country.”

“We respect her. She is a great athlete. Der Aaye Durust Aaye (Better late than never),” said Bajrang.

“If someone has come here and says she supports us, that’s all we need,” added Sakshi.

Vinesh said she did not ask Usha when will the IOA complete its probe but shared a suggestion. “I told her, now that wrestling is under her, she should take everything under her control and start organising competitions. I also told her that she is a Rajya Sabha MP… if she can raise this issue in Parliament, that will be enough,” she said.

Asked if the wrestlers were satisfied following the meeting with Usha, Bajrang said, “If she is giving us assurance, I suppose she should do something. But we clearly told her that until and unless things are not okay and we get justice, of which we are very hopeful, this protest will continue.”

Asked if any solution had emerged, Punia said, “If the things she has spoke about… if there is an initiative along those lines, then definitely there will be a solution to this issue. She said she will try to resolve all our problems. If she wants she can do anything.”

After the protests resumed on 23 April, Usha had said that the wrestlers lacked discipline and were bringing a bad name to Indian sport.

“Our feeling is that for sexual harassment complaints, IOA has a committee and athletes’ commission. Instead of going to the street (again), they should have come to us, but they have not at all come to IOA,” Usha said.

“Thoda toh discipline hona chahiye (there should be some discipline). Instead of coming to us they have gone straight to the streets. It’s not good for sport,” Usha added.

Read More: Non-protesting wrestlers demand resumption of national camp

Meanwhile, Mahavir Phogat, the father of the famous Phogat sisters, has also come out in support of the protesting wrestlers.

“This is a do-or-die situation. We will sit on dharna till we get justice. We are united in this fight. Babita (Phogat) is also part of this fight,” Mahavir Phogat told India Today.

“There was a dharna in January as well. We wanted to inform the sports minister, BJP chief JP Nadda and Union home minister Amit Shah about the situation. They would have resolved the issue. A committee was formed (to probe the charges) but it did not do justice and no report was filed.

“There is no politics over the issue. The allegation that my family is trying to usurp power is false. Our family is together. We won’t take any position in WFI.”

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