Usha had a discussion with the protesting wrestlers and left the protest site without speaking to the media. Later, Bajrang Punia told reporters
Facing criticism from all quarters for being insensitive towards the protesting wrestlers, IOA President PT Usha on Wednesday met them at Jantar Mantar here and assured the grapplers of her support, saying she was first an athlete and then an administrator. Former sprinter Usha had come down heavily on the wrestlers for resuming their protest instead of approaching the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for their issues. She had said that the wrestlers should have shown some discipline and that they had tarnished the country's image by hitting the streets, a comment that brought criticism for her and the IOA. Usha left without speaking with the media but Bajrang Punia said she has assured them help. "Initially when she said that, we had felt very bad but then she said that her comments were misinterpreted. She said that she is first an athlete and then an administrator," said Bajrang, the Tokyo Games bronze medallist. "We told her that we want justice. We don't have a fight with the
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said representatives from 360 villages in Delhi, including MLAs and councillors, will visit Jantar Mantar on Wednesday to express solidarity with the protesting wrestlers. Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, AAP Delhi unit convener Gopal Rai said the wrestlers who brought fame for the country have been braving adverse weather conditions. The wrestlers have been staging a sit-in since April 23 over allegations of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. "Yesterday they sat there in heavy rains. The prime minister has no time to listen to them. SC (Supreme Court) had to direct that an FIR be registered. Even the sports minister is not ready to hear their pleas," he said. Rai accused the BJP of being busy in maligning them. "They are trying to malign the movement. They were not allowed to put up tents. They are not allowed to put up microphone system. The whole nation is watching it. People are
Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is facing sexual harassment allegations and protest by a section of top wrestlers, Sunday alleged that Congress leader Deepender Hooda hatched the conspiracy against him and praised SP chief Akhilesh Yadav for not supporting the agitators. Singh, who is also a BJP MP, alleged that Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist grappler Bajrang Punia was also involved in the conspiracy against him. The WFI chief is in the eye of a storm after the grapplers levelled sexual harassment charges against him and demanded his arrest as well as ouster from the Wrestling Federation of India. Various political parties, including the Congress and AAP, have lent their support to the wrestlers. Singh, who has till now remained defiant about not quitting his post, said that he was ready to resign if it would make the protesters go back home. "If they go back and sleep peacefully after my resignation, I am ready to do so." Interacting with report
Wrestlers staging protests on the streets amounts to indiscipline. It is tarnishing the image of India, she added.
From Kapil Dev to Neeraj Chopra, many have spoken in support of the wrestlers
Following PT Usha's strong criticism, wrestlers responded to her and said that they are hurt by her comments, as they looked up to her for support
India's star wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, returned to Jantar Mantar to protest on Sunday after a three-month hiatus
The wrestlers had protested against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) in January this year
Catch all the latest updates from across the globe here
Wrestlers have been protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India. WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was accused of sexual misconduct and intimidation by the wrestlers
The Sports Ministry has extended by two weeks the deadline given to the Oversight Committee to submit its report on sexual harassment allegations against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The Committee, led by legendary boxer MC Mary Kom, was formed on January 23 to investigate into the claims made by country's top wrestlers that Brij Bhushan has sexually harassed several women wrestlers and intimidates the athletes. The wrestlers had not provided the names of the 'victims'. The committee, which is running the day-to-day functioning of the sports body, was asked to submits its report in four weeks. The ministry extended the deadline following requests from the committee members and now it will submit its report by March 9. "The Sports Ministry has given a two-week extension to the Oversight Committee for the submission of its report, following a request," a ministry source told PTI. The ministry was forced to form the panel after top Indian wrestlers, including Bajrang Pun
Live news updates: As per the schedule, the polling to the 60 Assembly constituencies will be held on February 16 and counting will take place on March 2
Prominent wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, have accused Singh of sexually exploiting women wrestlers 'for years'
On Wednesday, wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik accused the WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharma of sexual harassment
In an unprecedented move, the country's top wrestlers, including Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia and world championship medallist Vinesh Phogat, staged a protest against the "dictatorship" of national federation President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Wednesday. The wrestlers did not share the exact details of their grievances or their demands but it was clear that they are fed up with the way the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is being run by Singh, who is also a BJP MP from Kaiserganj. Bajrang, Vinesh, Rio Olympics medallist Sakshi Malik, world championship medallist Sarita Mor, Sangeeta Phogat, Satyawart Malik, Jitender Kinha and CWG medallist Sumit Malik were among 30 wrestlers who have assembled at Jantar Mantar. "Our fight is not against the government or Sports Authority of India (SAI). This is against WFI. We will share details later in the day. 'Yeh ab aar paar ki ladai hai' (It's a fight to the finish)," Bajrang Punia told PTI. Bajrang's support staff, .
Out of the circuit as he is recuperating from a head injury, Olympic and World Championship bronze medallist Bajrang Punia is missing being on the mat at the 36th National Games here
Olympic and World Wrestling Championships bronze medallist Bajrang Punia called on Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence on Saturday
Commonwealth gold medalist Bajrang Punia will miss out on the National Games 2022 owing to a head injury that he sustained in Belgrade during the World Championships earlier this month
Ace grappler Bajrang Punia became the only Indian to claim four medals at the World Wrestling Championships by clinching a bronze in the current edition, here on Sunday . Bajrang, who won a bronze in last year's Tokyo Olympics, eked out a close 11-9 win on points over Sebastian C Rivera of Puerto Rico in one of the the bronze medal bouts in the 65 kg category. Bajrang, who lost to John Michael Diakomihalis of USA in the quarterfinals, qualified for the bronze medal contest through repechage round where he defeated Vazgen Tevanyan of Armenia 7-6 by points. It is Bajrang's third bronze at the worlds. The celebrated Indian wrestler had earlier won a bronze at in 2013, silver in 2018 and bronze in 2019. India had fielded a 30-member team for the ongoing World Championships but produced a below-par performance, securing just two medals. Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Ravi Kumar Dahiya had crashed out early and failed to secure a podium finish. Besides Bajrang, Vinesh Phogat won her s