In an impassioned appeal, Olympic medalists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik have turned to the United World Wrestling (UWW) with a plea for immediate action. Through an open letter crafted by Punia and amplified by Malik, they have voiced their concerns over the recent decision to reinstate the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), a move they believe endangers the well-being and fair treatment of Indian wrestlers.
The contention arose after UWW decided to lift a provisional suspension on the WFI, initially imposed last August due to the federation's failure to conduct timely elections. This move by UWW has stirred discontent among notable Indian wrestlers, including Punia and Malik, who previously stood against the alleged misconduct by former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and the federation's governance.
The crux of their apprehension lies in the fear that decision-making powers within the WFI remain with those loyal to Brij Bhushan, thereby compromising the fairness and transparency of wrestling administration at both the state and national levels. Their resolve to challenge this reinstatement has led them to consider reviving their protest, a step they are prepared to take should their calls for justice go unheeded.
In his letter, Bajrang Punia articulates a collective yearning for an environment where sports activities in India are conducted with clarity and fairness. "We are hopeful that you will consider our request to support clear and fair sports activities in India and take necessary actions against the WFI," Punia states, underlining the urgent need for UWW's intervention.
Furthermore, Punia highlighted the widespread support from various community groups, emphasizing the wrestlers' readiness to consult with their allies and make decisive actions in the coming days. "We wrestlers will talk to all those who support us - farmer groups, khap panchayats, labour unions and women organisations and make a decision in the next two to three days. I request the government not to force us to start the protests again," he had declared on Wednesday.
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