WFI controversy: Junior wrestlers protest in Delhi, blaming Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik for halting their careers

Holding up banners reading ‘UWW, save our wrestling from these 3 wrestlers,’ young wrestlers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh voiced their grievances at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Wednesday. They chanted slogans against Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat, whom they alleged were hindering their wrestling careers.

The junior wrestlers claimed that protests held last year, over accusations of sexual harassment against Ex WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh have led to the loss of a crucial year in their sporting journeys.

The tumult in the wrestling fraternity stemmed from the suspension of the newly-elected wrestling body by the ministry, citing alleged improprieties linked to Brij Bhushan’s associate, Sanjay Singh. Amidst the turmoil, the Ministry of Sports has established an ad-hoc panel on December 27 to stir the sport.

Since January 2023, the wrestling landscape has been mired in a standstill, with national camps and competitions put on indefinite hold due to the WFI’s dual suspensions, the protestors claimed. Lakshmi from Mathura who has been practising the sport for the last 5 years said, “Senior wrestlers should support and foster promotion of the sport, instead they are discouraging it…No championships have taken place since last one year, do they expect us to reach the Olympics without participating in championships?”

“Wrestling has come to a halt since the protests last year. I was set to compete at the under-15 nationals, and many of us had diligently prepared for it. Why are they denying young wrestlers the opportunity?” asked 15-year-old Anushka Pandit, who joined the protest from Dadri, Uttar Pradesh.

The ad-hoc panel, managing wrestling affairs in the country, on Wednesday announced organisation of U15 and U20 National championships within six weeks, hours after junior wrestlers held a protest.

“We had aspirations of competing at the world championships, but how can we represent our country without the exposure of national championships? What’s the point of our preparation if these tournaments don’t happen? Senior wrestlers have completed their careers and aren’t considering ours,” Joni Dalal from Mandothi, Haryana said.

Ravinder Kumar, a women’s wrestling coach, said, “To secure the future of these kids, we urge the removal of the ad-hoc committee and the reinstatement of WFI in charge. District, state, national tournaments – none are running smoothly since the WFI lost its autonomy.”

Elsewhere on Wednesday,  Sakshi Malik said that she has no issues with the newly-elected Wrestling Federation of India if Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh-loyalist Sanjay Singh is kept away from the body. Sakshi also requested the ad-hoc panel to conduct age group nationals at the earliest, saying that she doesn’t want any young wrestler suffer.

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Monu, a coach at the Arya Samaj Akhara in Chhaprauli, Baghpat said, “These kids keep asking us when the championships would take place but we do not have a response to offer, many of these kids are extremely talented and deserve platforms where their talent can be displayed.”

Notably, around 300 participants hailed from the Arya Samaj Akhara in Chhaprauli, Baghpat, while many others had also joined from the Virender Wrestling Academy in Narela.

(With PTI inputs)

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