United World Wrestling (UWW) issued a statement on Tuesday condemning the detention of prominent Indian wrestlers during a protest march on 28 May. It threatened the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) with a suspension in case pending elections are not held in time.
Highlighting the protests by Indian wrestlers over allegations of abuse and harassment by the now former WFI President and current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the UWW said that it had followed the situation with great concern.
UWW issues statement on Wrestling Federation of Indiahttps://t.co/TyNfSX57qW
— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) May 30, 2023
Wrestling Body Expresses Concerns
The agency said that it had put aside the WFI President at an early stage and removed him from charge. It said that the arrest of the wrestlers and their temporary detention by the police for initiating a march of protest was worrying. The statement also mentioned that the authorities had cleared the site where the wrestlers were protesting for over a month.
The UWW condemned the treatment meted out to the wrestlers and expressed concerns over the detentions of the wrestlers. The statement said, “UWW urges the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations.”
The agency said it would meet with the wrestlers to inquire about their condition and safety. In the statement, the UWW noted that it would confirm its support for a fair and just resolution of the wrestlers’ concerns in the meeting.
Several wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia, were detained by the Delhi police while marching towards the new Parliament House on 28 May. The Indian wrestlers are protesting against former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over the abuse of power and sexual harassment of several women, including a minor.
UWW firmly condemns the treatment and detention of the wrestlers. It expresses its disappointment over the lack of results of the investigations so far: World wrestling body | #WrestlersProtest https://t.co/gmFQO4TI8m
— India Today Sports (@ITGDsports) May 30, 2023
Suspension Warning To WFI
Additionally, the UWW has sought information about the next elective general assembly from the Indian Olympic Association and WFI’s ad-hoc Committee, which is currently running the WFI.
The organisation said that failure to adhere to the 45-day deadline to hold the assembly would result in the suspension of the WFI, thereby forcing Indian athletes to compete under a neutral flag.
The statement noted, “It is reminded that UWW already took a measure in this situation by reallocating the Asian Championship planned in New Delhi earlier this year.” Due to the controversy, UWW relocated the Asian Championship from Delhi to Astana.
The wrestlers have been protesting since 23 April at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. They said on Tuesday that they would throw their medals into the Ganga River to protest against the high-handedness of the police and conduct a fast until death at the India Gate. However, the wrestlers later withdrew their decision of immersing the medals.