Tokyo Olympics Bronze medallist Bajrang Punia issued an ultimatum to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) during the protest at Jantar Mantar, calling for the sacking of president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh.
Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, 66, was elected unopposed as the President of WFI for a third consecutive term in February 2019.
Bajrang said the federation is being run in an arbitrary manner and they will not compete in any international competition unless the WFI President, who is no less than a "dictator", is removed.
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"Our fight is not against the government or the Sports Authority of India (SAI). This is against WFI. 'Yeh ab aar paar ki ladai hai' (It's a fight to the finish). We will continue this protest until WFI President is removed," Bajrang said.
"We will not compete in any international competition until the WFI President is removed. This is a fight to save Indian wrestling. While we are denied help and support of foreign coaches, the WFI President has hired a foreign coach for his own academy in Gonda," he later said while addressing the media.
"He uses abusive language against wrestlers, we can even show you videos of that," Punia added.
In December 2021, the WFI President had slapped an over-age wrestler during the under-15 national championship when he insisted on competing after being disqualified.
(With PTI inputs)