India’s veteran wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik are directing an indefinite strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and its president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Wrestlers have made many serious allegations against Brij Bhushan, including sexual exploitation. These wrestlers have been protesting for six days and sleeping on the road. The wrestlers also demanded the registration of an FIR against Brij Bhushan.
Several athletes, including Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha and India’s first Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra, gave statements on this matter. However, Vinesh has questioned the silence of many star athletes, including cricketers. Disappointed, Vinesh said that those who didn’t say a word on the matter don’t have heart.
Speaking to a media outlet, Vinesh launched a scathing attack on the country’s top cricketers, asking why they are silent on the matter when they often comment on the achievements of athletes in sports like the Olympics or Commonwealth on social media.
She said, “The whole country worships cricket, but not a single cricketer said anything. We are not asking that you speak in our favor, but at least give a neutral message and say there should be justice for any party. This is where I suffer, whether cricketers, badminton players, athletics or boxing.”
Vinesh further said, “You put pictures, you do brand collaborations… can’t you put a post that there should be justice for us? That’s all we request. If we don’t deserve his support in this time of struggle, God willing, he may not come to congratulate us if we win a medal tomorrow and work very hard for it. Don’t say you had faith in our abilities because you don’t have faith. That’s why you are doubting us now.”
However, after this statement of Vinesh, the statements of Kapil Dev, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan have come to the fore.
Captain Kapil Dev, who won the 1983 World Cup to India, posted a picture of the wrestlers on Instagram and wrote – Will they ever get justice?
At the same time, former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag wrote, “It is a matter of great sadness that our champions, who have brought laurels to the country, hoisted the flag, and brought so much happiness to all of us, must come on the road today. It is a very sensitive matter, and it should be investigated impartially. Hope the players get justice.”
Harbhajan Singh said, “Sakshi and Vinesh are the pride of India. I am saddened to see my country’s pride taking to the streets to protest as a sportsperson. I pray that they get justice.”
At the same time, Irfan Pathan said, “Indian athletes are always our pride, not only when they win medals for us.”
