Top wrestlers including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat launch protest against Wrestling Federation of India

In an unprecedented move, the country’s top wrestlers, including Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia and world championship medallist Vinesh Phogat, staged a protest against the “dictatorship” of national federation President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Wednesday. The wrestlers did not share the exact details of their grievances or their demands but it was clear that they are fed up with the way the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is being run by Singh, who is also a BJP MP from Kaiserganj.

Delhi | Wrestlers, including Olympians Bajrang Punia & Sakshee Malikkh, protest against Wrestling Federation of India at Jantar Mantar

Bajrang Punia says, "Wrestlers don't want to tolerate the ongoing dictatorship. We'll hold a press conference b/w 3-4pm&reveal everything there" pic.twitter.com/vK9oEqkXFF

— ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2023

Bajrang, Vinesh, Rio Olympics medallist Sakshi Malik, world championship medallist Sarita Mor, Sangeeta Phogat, Satyawart Malik, Jitender Kinha and CWG medallist Sumit Malik were among 30 wrestlers who have assembled at Jantar Mantar.

This is unprecedented.
Country's top wrestlers, including @BajrangPunia , @Phogat_Vinesh , @SakshiMalik @OLyAnshu @saritamor3 @sangeeta_phogat are sitting on Dharna to speak against the dictatorial style of functioning at WFI. pic.twitter.com/d4OYiItsnj

— Amanpreet Singh (ਅਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ) (@amanthejourno) January 18, 2023

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“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. Bajrang’s support staff, including his coach Sujeet Mann and physio Anand Dubey have also joined the protest. “The dictatorship will not be tolerated,” said another wrestler. Singh has been at the helm since 2011. He was elected President of WFI for the third consecutive time in February 2019. “The players make every effort to win medals for the country but the federation has not done anything except downgrading us. Arbitrary rules are being framed to torture the athletes,” tweeted Sakshi.

फेडरेशन का काम खिलाड़ियों का साथ देना, उनकी खेल की जरूरतों का ध्यान रखना होता है। कोई समस्या हो तो उसका निदान करना होता है। लेकिन अगर फेडरेशन ही समस्या खड़ी करे तो क्या किया जाए?
अब लड़ना पड़ेगा, हम पीछे नहीं हटेंगे । #BoycottWFIPresident#BotcottWrestlingPresident

— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) January 18, 2023

खिलाड़ी पूरी मेहनत कर के देश को मेडल दिलाता हैं लेकिन फेडरेशन ने हमें नीचा दिखाने के अलावा कुछ नहीं किया। मनचाहे क़ायदे क़ानून लगा कर खिलाड़ियों को प्रताड़ित किया जा रहा है। #BoycottWFIPresident#BoycottWrestlingPresident@PMOIndia @AmitShah @narendramodi

— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) January 18, 2023

खिलाड़ी आत्मसम्मान चाहता हैऔर पूरी शिद्दत के साथ ओलंपिक और बड़े खेलो के लिए तैयारी करता है लेकिन अगर फेडरेशन उसका साथ ना दे मनोबल टूट जाता है
लेकिनअब हम नही झुकेंगे अपने अधिकारों के लिए लड़ेंगे#BoycottWFIPresident#BotcottWrestlingPresident @narendramodi @AmitShah @BabitaPhogat

— Sangeeta Phogat (@sangeeta_phogat) January 18, 2023

Anshu Malik, Sangeeta Phogat and other wrestlers also tweeted on the same lines with #BoycottWFIPresident and tagged PMO, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Read all the  Latest News ,  Trending News ,  Cricket News ,  Bollywood News ,  India News  and  Entertainment News  here. Follow us on  Facebook,  Twitter and  Instagram.