United World Wrestling (UWW), the international governing body for wrestling, has strongly condemned the treatment of protesting Indian wrestlers and their subsequent detention by the Delhi Police after a scuffle on May 28. In a statement, UWW expressed concern over the wrestlers' arrest and temporary detention, describing the events as "even more worrying."
Expressing disappointment with the progress of the investigation into sexual harassment allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP, UWW called on the authorities to conduct a thorough and unbiased probe into the allegations.
UWW also announced plans to hold a meeting with the affected wrestlers to inquire about their well-being and safety, reaffirming their support for a fair and just resolution of their concerns.
The statement from UWW emphasized the importance of adhering to the initial 45-day deadline set for the elective assembly and warned that failure to do so could result in the suspension of the federation, leading athletes to compete under a neutral flag. It should be noted that UWW has already taken action by reallocating the Asian Championship originally planned to be held in New Delhi earlier this year.
Last month, UWW President Nenad Lalovic had written to WFI, seeking clarity on the management of wrestling in the country. Copies of the letter were sent to the President of the Indian Olympic Association, PT Usha, and an official from the International Olympic Committee. In response, the WFI complained about "government interference" in their affairs.
The aggrieved wrestlers, including Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik, world championships medalist Vinesh Phogat, and Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia, had planned to protest against sexual harassment by discarding their hard-earned medals into the Ganga River. However, their decision was reversed when farmer leader Naresh Tikait intervened and convinced them to wait for a response from the government within five days.
The wrestlers had gathered in Haridwar, where they tearfully held their prized possessions on the banks of the Ganga River before deciding against the protest. Tikait's timely intervention prevented the disposal of the medals, urging them to give the government an opportunity to respond.
Comments