Thakur asks wrestlers to be patient, trust probe

May 31, 2023 16:23

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur asks protesting wrestlers to be patient and trust the probe into allegations against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh. Thakur urges wrestlers not to take any step that will undermine sports. "We all are in favour of the sport and sportspersons," he says.

Some of India's best wrestlers accompanied by hundreds of supporters gathered in Haridwar on the banks of the Ganga yesterday, threatening to immerse their Olympics, Asian Games and World Championship medals in the holy river but refrained after being convinced by Khap and farmer leaders who sought five days to address their grievances.

Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat arrived at Har ki Pauri in Haridwar to protest the inaction against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has allegedly sexually harassed several women grapplers.

Sakshi, Vinesh and her cousin Sangeeta were seen sobbing as their husbands tried to console them, even as scores of their supporters formed a cordon around them.

The wrestlers stood for about 20 minutes in silence after reaching Har ki Pauri. They then sat on the banks of the river holding their medals and looking distressed.

Bajrang joined them after 40 minutes. Sombir Rathi, husband of Vinesh, was holding the Asian Games medals won by her wife. Sakshi was holding tightly the framed Olympic bronze medal she had won in 2016 in Rio.

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