Junior wrestlers assemble at Jantar Mantar, protest against Bajrang, Sakshi and Vinesh

The ongoing crisis in Indian wrestling took a fresh twist on Wednesday when hundreds of junior wrestlers assembled at Jantar Mantar for a symbolic three-hour 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.

Loaded in buses, the junior wrestlers arrived from different parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi, catching the police unaware.

Close to 300 of them came from Arya Samaj Akhara in Chhaprauli, Baghpat while many others came from the Virender Wrestling Academy in Narela. The security personnel struggled to control them as they shouted slogans against Punia, Malik and Phogat.

Braving cold conditions, the junior wrestlers arrived at Jantar Mantar at 11am and left after three hours with a warning that if the government does not lift the WFI suspension within 10 days, they will start returning their awards.

The protesters were carrying banners that read: ‘UWW save our wrestling from these 3 wrestlers’.

READ | WFI without Sanjay Singh is acceptable to us, says Sakshi Malik

Soon after the election of new office-bearers, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) announced hosting the Under 15 and Under 20 Nationals in Gonda, UP but the ministry suspended the body, leading to the cancellation of the proposed tournament.

Several wrestlers, who could have competed in the junior categories for one last time, lost the opportunity.

“It was a symbolic protest. We are giving 10 days’ time to the government to revoke the suspension of the new WFI and allow it to hold age group nationals.

“If they don’t do it, we will start returning our Arjuna and other awards to the government just like Bajrang and Vinesh have done,” said Greco-Roman wrestler Sunil Rana, who is an Arjuna awardee and a bronze medallist from the 2023 Asian Games.

“More than 90 per cent of Akharas (training centres) in UP are with us in this protest. There are only three wrestlers on one side and lakhs on the other. They have spoilt the careers of lakhs of wrestlers across the country,” said Muzaffarnagar stadium coach Pradeep Kumar.

“These people have no respect for national awards. They are leaving them on the roads,” Kumar added, referring to Punia and Phogat returning their government honours.

“They kept saying that they were protesting for women and junior wrestlers but they have spoilt careers of lakhs after earning all the laurels. Their protest is only to get top WFI posts. Once that happens, they will stop all protests.”

Ironically, almost a year back at the same protest site, the top three wrestlers had managed to draw huge support for their cause when they called for the arrest of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexually harassing women wrestlers.

Thousands of people from different sections of society, including farmers groups, social workers, politicians, women’s groups and members of the wrestling fraternity, came out to support Malik, Phogat and Punia.

The three are now facing protests from within their community with those assembled at Jantar Mantar, accusing them of ruining their careers.

Since January 2023, national camps and competitions have been on hold as the WFI has been suspended twice and an ad-hoc panel is running the sport.

“An entire year for these junior wrestlers has gone waste. The new WFI had taken the decision for the welfare of the wrestlers who had not seen even district or state level competitions, leave aside the nationals,” said Vivek Malik who belongs to the Arya Samaj Akhara.

“But the new body was suspended. This body was elected on the instructions of the court but it wasn’t allowed to work and prove itself even for three days. The suspension should be lifted and the WFI should be allowed to function.

“They had the task of completing the wrestling calendar before December 31, so what wrong did they do to warrant the suspension?” he asked.

Those protesting on Wednesday demanded that the suspended WFI be restored after disbanding the ad-hoc panel which has been appointed by the sports ministry.

The protesters also defaced the placards bearing images of Punia, Malik and Phogat before trampling them.

In a memorandum, Sunil Rana, coach Naresh Dahiya, wrestlers Nikki and Varun Gujjar apart from Rajendra ‘pehlwan’, demanded that “the government should listen to not just the three wrestlers but the entire fraternity.

“We request that the government lifts WFI suspension and take strict action against the wrestlers who insulted the government honours by leaving their awards on the road.”

Punia had returned his Padma Shri while Vinesh had returned her Arjuna and Khel Ratna awards, saying that these awards mean nothing when they are struggling to get justice.