Junior Wrestlers Stage Protest; Demand Action Against Bajrang, Sakshi & Vinesh

Wrestlers hold placards during a protest against wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat at Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. The ongoing crisis in Indian wrestling took a fresh twist on Wednesday when hundreds of junior wrestlers assembled at Jantar Mantar to protest against the loss of one crucial year of their careers, a situation for which they blamed top grapplers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat.

Image: PTI

Hundreds of young Indian wrestlers staged a protest against seniors Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik on Wednesday at the Jantar Mantar demanding action and also United World Wrestling (UWW) intervention into the ongoing WFI tussle.

The agitated grapplers demanded action against the trio "for hampering the progress of wrestling in India".

The young wrestlers startled the police when they arrived, loaded into buses, from various parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.

New Delhi: Wrestlers arrive at Jantar Mantar from Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, to protest against loss of one year due to the ongoing crisis in Indian wrestling, in New Delhi, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024.

New Delhi: Wrestlers arrive at Jantar Mantar from Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, to protest against loss of one year due to the ongoing crisis in Indian wrestling, in New Delhi, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024.

New Delhi: Young wrestlers hold placards during a protest against wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat at Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. The ongoing crisis in Indian wrestling took a fresh twist on Wednesday when hundreds of junior wrestlers assembled at Jantar Mantar to protest against the loss of one crucial year of their careers, a situation for which they blamed top grapplers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat.

New Delhi: Young wrestlers hold placards during a protest against wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat at Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. The ongoing crisis in Indian wrestling took a fresh twist on Wednesday when hundreds of junior wrestlers assembled at Jantar Mantar to protest against the loss of one crucial year of their careers, a situation for which they blamed top grapplers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat.

As per PTI, many of them were from the Virender Wrestling Academy in Narela and about 300 of them were from the Arya Samaj Akhara in Chhaprauli, Baghpat.

It was difficult for the security personnel to keep them under control as they chanted slogans against Bajrang, Sakshi and Vinesh.

“UWW save our wrestling from these 3 wrestlers” was written on the banners carried by the protesters.

Noatbly, the wrestlers didn't get a chance to play any national in 2023 because of the protest led by Bajrang Sakshi and Vinesh against the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for his alleged sexual harassment involvement.

Later, in wake of the protests staged by junior Wrestlers, the Ad-Hoc Committee for Wrestling Federation of India announced that they are planning to organize the national championships for the U-15 and U-20 categories within the next 6 weeks at Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education, Gwalior.

"The Committee acknowledges the concerns raised by the young wrestlers and is committed to address the issues. The Committee is planning to organize the national championships for the U-15 and U-20 categories within the next 6 weeks at LNIPE, Gwalior. The Committee in a short span of one week, has already taken several initiatives," read a statement from their press release.

Sakshi, meanwhile, stated unequivocally at her press conference that she has resigned from professional wrestling and that she hopes upcoming Indian wrestlers can realize her dream of taking home medals from the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

"We knew Brij Bhushan (Sharan Singh) is influential, but we had no idea he would be this powerful. Now, his propaganda is to make allegations that we have been grabbing young wrestlers' opportunities. However, now that I have retired, I want young girls to win and fulfill my dream," said Sakshi in a press conference held in Delhi.