Ace Indian wrestlers stage protest against WFI at Jantar Mantar

New Delhi: Ace grappler Bajrang Punia and nearly a dozen wrestlers began their protest against the Wrestling Federation of India at Jantar Mantar here on Wednesday.

Punia took to Twitter and wrote, “The federation’s job is to support the players, take care of their sporting needs. If there is a problem, it has to be solved. But what to do if the federation itself creates the problem? Now we have to fight, we will not back down.”

फेडरेशन का काम खिलाड़ियों का साथ देना, उनकी खेल की जरूरतों का ध्यान रखना होता है। कोई समस्या हो तो उसका निदान करना होता है। लेकिन अगर फेडरेशन ही समस्या खड़ी करे तो क्या किया जाए?
अब लड़ना पड़ेगा, हम पीछे नहीं हटेंगे । #BoycottWFIPresident#BotcottWrestlingPresident

— Bajrang Punia ?? (@BajrangPunia) January 18, 2023

India’s top wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Sangeeta Phogat, Sonam Malik and Anshu were seen in a picture posted by Bajrang Punia on his Twitter account.

“The job of the federation is to support the players, take care of their sporting needs. If there is a problem, it has to be solved. But what if the federation itself creates the problem? Now we have to fight, we will not back down,” he added with a #BoycottWFIPresident and and#BoycottWrestlingFederation.

खिलाड़ी पूरी मेहनत कर के देश को मेडल दिलाता हैं लेकिन फेडरेशन ने हमें नीचा दिखाने के अलावा कुछ नहीं किया। मनचाहे क़ायदे क़ानून लगा कर खिलाड़ियों को प्रताड़ित किया जा रहा है। #BoycottWFIPresident#BoycottWrestlingPresident@PMOIndia @AmitShah @narendramodi

— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) January 18, 2023

“Sportspersons work hard to win medals for the country, but the Federation has done nothing but let us down. Players are being harassed by imposing arbitrary laws,” Sakshee Malikkh tweeted.

“The player wants self-respect and prepares for the Olympics and big games with full vigor, but if the federation does not support him, the morale breaks down, but now we will not bow down, we will fight for our rights,” Sangeeta Phogat tweeted and Vinesh Phogat tweeted the same.

खिलाड़ी आत्मसम्मान चाहता हैऔर पूरी शिद्दत के साथ ओलंपिक और बड़े खेलो के लिए तैयारी करता है लेकिन अगर फेडरेशन उसका साथ ना दे मनोबल टूट जाता है
लेकिनअब हम नही झुकेंगे अपने अधिकारों के लिए लड़ेंगे#BoycottWFIPresident#BotcottWrestlingPresident @narendramodi @AmitShah @BabitaPhogat

— Sangeeta Phogat (@sangeeta_phogat) January 18, 2023

खिलाड़ी आत्मसम्मान चाहता है और पूरी शिद्दत के साथ ओलंपिक और बड़े खेलो के लिए तैयारी करता है लेकिन अगर फेडरेशन उसका साथ ना दे मनोबल टूट जाता है।लेकिन अब हम नही झुकेंगे।अपने अधिकारों के लिए लड़ेंगे।#BoycottWFIPresident#BoycottWrestlingPresident@PMOIndia @narendramodi @AmitShah

— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) January 18, 2023

The way the WFI operates is not satisfactory to the wrestlers. The Wrestling Federation of India is headed by Brij Bushan Singh – a Lok Sabha MP from the country’s ruling BJP, as the President.