India's star wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt questioned Indian Olympic Association (IOA) ad-hoc panel's decision to limit Asian Games and World Championship selection trials for six protesting wrestlers and termed it a ‘black day for wrestling’ in India. In a significant decision aimed at helping the six protesting of wrestlers including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik the two-member ad-hoc body decided that the aforementioned grapplers will have to feature in only one bout for the selection in the upcoming Asian Games which will be held in China from September 23 to October 8.
Yogeshwar's ‘Black Day’ jibe
In a video posted on Friday morning on his Twitter handle, Dutt asked why Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Sangeeta Phogat, Satywart Kadian and Jitender Kinha have been given the exemption when there are much more deserving wrestlers based on their recent performances.
“I came to know about the IOA’s exemption to the protesting wrestlers through newspapers. I don’t know what criteria has been set by the IOA for their selection. If the committee wants such a trial, then there are many wrestlers like Olympic medalist Ravi Dahiya, world silver medalist Anshu Malik etc who performed well on the international stage. It is beyond my understanding to exempt six wrestlers from the trials," Dutt said.
“This is absolutely wrong. Even the earlier federation did not take such decision that you (the Ad-hoc committee) have taken, without looking at any rules and without making any criteria," he added.
Vinesh claps back at Yogeshwar
Soon after Yogeshwar put out a video, Vinesh without further ado posted a lengthy tweet and came down heavily on Yogeshwar.
"When I saw Yogeshwar Dutt's clip, his ugly laughter got stuck in my mind. He was a part of both the committees which was constituted for women wrestlers. When women wrestlers were narrating their agony to the committee, he used to burst out in ugly laughter. When two female wrestlers came out to drink water, Yogeshwar told them 'nothing will happen to Brij Bhushan. You better go and do your practice'.
“In another incident in a very abrupt manner Yogeshwar told another female wrestler to not to make an issue out of it as this goes on and on. Let me know if you need anything. After the conclusion of committee meeting, Yogeshwar leaked the names of women wrestlers to Brijbhushan Sharan Singh and the media. Not just this, but Yogeshwar also called the guardians of many women wrestlers and threatened them to keep them in check. He was already publicly giving statements against women wrestlers, yet he will be present in both the committees,” she wrote.
“Yogeshwar constantly tried to stop wrestlers and coaches from joining our protest against Brijbhushan Sharan Singh. The whole wrestling world understood that Yogeshwar is trying to defend Brijbhushan,” Vinesh's tweet read.
“If anyone raises voice against injustice in the society, then Yogeshwar definitely vomits. Earlier made bad comments on farmers, jawans, students, Muslims, Sikhs and now is engaged in defaming women wrestlers. Because of betraying the society, you have fallen on your face twice in the elections. And I challenge that you will never win an election in your life, because the society is always careful of poisonous snakes and never lets it set foot.”
"Wrestling world will always remember your licking the feet of Brijbhushan. Don't use so much force to break women wrestlers, they have very strong intentions. Keep in mind that by applying too much force, the back should not break. You have already put the backbone in Brijbhushan's feet. You are very insensitive person. Standing in favor of the oppressor, you are flattering him. As long as Jaichand like Yogeshwar remains in wrestling, surely the spirits of the oppressors will remain high," the tweet further read.
Notably, the wresters had halted their protest till June 15 after being assured by Sports Minister Anurag Thakur that a chargesheet will be filed against Brijbhushan Sharan Singh by then. The police, in its chargesheet recommended dropping of POCSO charge for lack of corroborative evidence. The minor wrestler, one of the seven complainants, had alleged Singh of sexual harassment but later withdrew her charges.
Soon after the Delhi Police filed the chargesheet in the case, the wrestlers began a discussion on their next move but did not divulge much.
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