Image Source: AGENCIES

28-04-2023
WATSUPPTODAY DESK

Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra asked for "quick action" from the government on Friday in order to guarantee that justice is done and offered his support to the wrestlers who are protesting.
Chopra expressed his disappointment a day after IOA president PT Usha harshly criticised the wrestlers for returning to the streets to renew their protests rather than going to the IOA's athletes' commission to file complaints against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the head of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), who has been accused of sexual harassment and intimidation. Ace javelin thrower Chopra, who scripted history by winning India’s first-ever gold medal in athletics at the Olympics, said “it hurts” to see fellow athletes taking to the streets in search of justice. He tweeted, “It hurts me to see our athletes on the streets demanding justice. They have worked hard to represent our great nation and make us proud. As a nation, we are responsible for safeguarding the integrity and dignity of every individual, athlete or not. What’s happening should never happen. This is a sensitive issue, and must be dealt with in an impartial and transparent manner. Pertaining authorities must take quick action in order to ensure that justice is served.” The wrestlers have now received support from the country’s only two individual Olympic gold medallists, with 2008 Beijing Games shooting champion Abhinav Bindra too recently voicing his support to the grapplers. The wrestlers, who include Olympics, Commonwealth and World Championships medal winners in Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat, have been sitting in at Jantar Mantar in the heart of the national capital since last weekend.
As athletes, we train hard every day to represent our country on the international stage. It is deeply concerning to see our athletes finding it necessary to protest on the streets regarding the allegations of harassment in the Indian wrestling administration,” Bindra had tweeted. Chopra, who is currently training in Antalya, Turkey and has his season-opening event in Doha Diamond League on May 6, has been getting compliments on social media since expressing his views on the issue. Also backing the wrestlers is cricket legend Kapil Dev and six-time Winter Olympian Shiva Keshavan, among others. On Friday, the Supreme Court will be hearing the plea by seven wrestlers seeking registration of FIR against the WFI president. The SC noted that there are serious allegations that are contained in the petition by wrestlers who have represented India. The apex court also issued notice to Delhi Police pertaining to the plea filed by the wrestlers. Over the last four days, the wrestlers have slept and trained at the protest site. After the IOA's executive committee meeting on Thursday, Usha addressed the media and said, "Our opinion is that the IOA has a committee and athletes' commission for sexual harassment charges. They should have come to IOA instead of (again) walking to the street, but they haven't at all. The IOA also disclosed the creation of a three-person committee to manage the WFI's daily operations and hold new elections within 45 days.