With the protests still in full flow against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), members of India's 1983 World Cup-winning side have condemned both the Delhi Police for their treatment of the wrestlers, as well as the wrestler, who have taken the decision to throw their international medals in the River Ganga.
"We are distressed and disturbed at the unseemly visuals of our champion wrestlers being manhandled. We are also most concerned that they are thinking of dumping their hard-earned medals into river Ganga. Those medals have involved years of effort, sacrifice, determination, and grit and are not only their own but the nation's pride and joy."
"We urge them not to take any hasty decision in this matter and also fervently hope that their grievances are heard and resolved quickly. Let the law of the land prevail," said a joint statement from the team.
The protestors were at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi for over a month before they were cleared out on Sunday, May 28. It was on the same day that the protestors, including Olympic medal winners Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, along with other international grapplers like Vinesh Phogat and Sangeeta Phogat, were dragged by personnel of the Delhi Police after breaching the security cordon while trying to move towards the new Parliament building.
They were trying to organise a women's Mahapanchayat as the new parliament building opens up.
On Tuesday, May 30, the world wrestling governing body, United World Wrestling (UWW), released a statement which condemns the treatment of wrestlers during their protest against the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Brij Bhushan has been accused of sexual and mental harassment and the protests have been ongoing for over a month. The UWW HAVE taken note of the events while also expressing their disappointment over the detention of the wrestlers at the protest site.
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