Wrestlers are currently staging a protest against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) in Delhi. At the protest, as per reports in NDTV, left leader Brinda Karat was requested “with folded hands” to leave the stage at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Thursday where around 200 wrestlers are on protest over accusations against the federation chief and several coaches of sexually harassing multiple athletes.
“Neeche chale jaaiye please (Please get down)… We request you, madam, please don’t make this political. It’s athletes’ protest,” Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia told Ms Karat when she arrived at the venue, on the second day of the protest.
The protest began on Wednesday with triple Commonwealth Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat, one of India’s most decorated women wrestlers, went public with the charges. Ms Phogat said she never faced such exploitation herself, but claimed many wrestlers were intimidated from coming forward because of their humble origins. The 28-year-old was backed by several other top wrestlers including Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, another Olympic bronze medallist.
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