The ongoing crisis in Indian wrestling took a fresh twist on Wednesday when hundreds of junior wrestlers assembled at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to protest against the loss of one crucial year of their careers, a situation for which they blamed top grapplers Bajrang Punia, Sakshee Malikkh 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, Malikkh and Phogat.
The protesters were carrying banners that read: 'UWW save our wrestling from these 3 wrestlers'.
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.
"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 Malikkh, 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 calender 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, Malikkh and Phogat before trampling them.
