'They have spoilt the careers of lakhs': Junior wrestlers protest against Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat

The crisis in Indian wrestling took a fresh turn on Wednesday when hundreds of junior wrestlers from different parts of the country congregated at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to protest against the loss of time of their careers. The grapplers blamed Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat squarely for their situation.

Travelling by buses, the junior wrestlers arrived from different parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi. Nearly 300 came from Arya Samaj Akhara in Chhaprauli, Baghpat while many others came from the Virender Wrestling Academy in Narela. Caught unawares, the police struggled to control them as they shouted slogans against Punia, Malik and Phogat.

The protesters carried banners that read: ‘UWW save our wrestling from these 3 wrestlers’.

Timeline: A look at everything that has happened since WFI elections

The protesters also defaced the placards bearing images of Punia, Malik and Phogat before trampling them.

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) in its newly-elected form currently stands suspended. Before being suspended by the Sports Ministry, WFI office-bearers had announced U-15 and U-20 nationals in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh. But they were called off after WFI’s suspension.

It robbed several wrestlers, who could have competed in the junior categories for one last time, of an opportunity.

“More than 90 per cent of Akharas (training centres) in UP are with us in this protest. There are only three wrestlers on one side and lakhs on the other. They have spoilt the careers of lakhs of wrestlers across the country,” said Muzaffarnagar stadium coach Pradeep Kumar.

“These people have no respect for national awards. They are leaving them on the roads,” Kumar added, referring to Punia and Phogat returning their government honours.

“They kept saying that they were protesting for women and junior wrestlers but they have spoilt careers of lakhs after earning all the laurels. Their protest is only to get top WFI posts. Once that happens, they will stop all protests.”

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Incidentally, almost a year back at the same protest site, the top three wrestlers had drawn huge support for their cause when they called for the arrest of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexually harassing women wrestlers.

Thousands of people, including farmers groups, social workers, politicians, women’s groups and members of the wrestling fraternity, came out to support Malik, Phogat and Punia.

The three are now facing protest by those within their own faction, accusing them of ruining their careers.

Since January last year, national camps and competitions have been on hold as the WFI has been suspended twice and an ad-hoc panel is running the sport.

Read | Indian wrestlers approach UWW for lifting WFI’s suspension

“An entire year for these junior wrestlers has gone waste. The new WFI had taken the decision for the welfare of the wrestlers who had not seen even district or state level competitions, leave aside the nationals,” said Vivek Malik who belongs to the Arya Samaj Akhara.

“But the new body was suspended. This body was elected on the instructions of the court but it wasn’t allowed to work and prove itself even for three days. The suspension should be lifted and the WFI should be allowed to function.

“They had the task of completing the wrestling calendar before December 31, so what wrong did they do to warrant the suspension?” he asked.

The junior wrestlers and others protesting at Jantar Mantar demanded that the suspended WFI be restored while disbanding the ad-hoc panel.