1983 cricket world cup winning team.
Fri 02 June 2023:
Concerned that the protesting wrestlers would take the extreme step of immersing their medals in the river Ganga, members of the 1983 World Cup-winning cricket team advised the elite athletes not to make hurried choices and hope that their grievances would be realized and resolved.
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, who have been demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Birj Bhushan Sharan Singh for alleged sexual exploitation of women wrestlers, took their protest to Haridwar on May 30 but did not carry out the threat of immersing their medals into Ganga.
यह देखकर मुझे बहुत दुख हो रहा है | There has to be a better way to deal with this. https://t.co/M2gzso4qjX
— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) May 28, 2023
On May 28, the Delhi Police had detained the wrestlers for violation of law and order when they marched towards the new Parliament building without permission.
The Police also cleared the protest site and made it clear that the wrestlers will not be allowed back at Jantar Mantar.
The police action against the wrestlers had invited criticism from different quarters.
“We are distressed and disturbed at the unseemly visuals of our champion wrestlers being manhandled. We are also most concerned that they are thinking of dumping their hard earned medals into river Ganga,” a statement released to PTI by the 1983 World Cup wining team read.
“Those medals have involved years of effort, sacrifice, determination, and grit and are not only their own but the nation’s pride and joy. We urge them not to take any hasty decision in this matter and also fervently hope that their grievances are heard and resolved quickly. Let the law of the land prevail,” the statement read further.
‘DICTATORSHIP’: PROTESTING INDIAN WRESTLERS CHARGED WITH RIOTING
Wrestling is arguably India’s most successful Olympic sport. In the 76 years since India’s independence, it has won 21 medals in individual sports, seven by wrestlers.
Female athletes have long complained of sexual harassment in their sports although they have been reluctant to speak out publicly.
The wrestlers have been protesting in the capital for more than a month over the lack of action against Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, who is also a parliamentarian from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been accused of sexual harassment by several female athletes but has denied all the allegations.
UNITED WORLD WRESTLING SUPPORTS WRESTLERS’ PROTESTS, THREATENS TO BAN INDIA’S WFI
The United World Wrestling issued a statement on Tuesday condemning the detention of the wrestlers and criticising the “lack of results” in the investigations against Singh.
Wrestling’s governing body reminded the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) of its promise, made in April, to hold fresh elections for the WFI within 45 days.
“Failing to do so may lead UWW to suspend the federation, thereby forcing the athletes to compete under a neutral flag,” it warned.
The UWW would hold a meeting with the wrestlers to inquire about their condition and safety, it added.
Under skipper Kapil Dev, the Indian cricket team had humbled the mighty Clive Lloyd led-West Indies to win the country’s first World Cup trophy.
Sunil Gavaskar, Mohinder Amarnath, K Srikanth, Syed Kirmani, Yashpal Sharma, Madan Lal, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Sandeep Patil, Kirti Azad and Roger Binny had featured in the memorable final, played at the Lord’s on June 25, 1983 .
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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