MUMBAI: Key members of India’s 1983 ICC World Cup winning team have come out in support of the ongoing protest by wrestlers demanding the arrest of BJP strongman and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who stands accused of sexual exploitation of women grapplers.
Members of the World Cup-winning team, including captain Kapil Dev, legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar, current BCCI president Roger Binny, Mohinder Amarnath and Kris Srikkanth among others, released a statement on Friday to show concern regarding the treatment of the wrestlers whilst urging them not to take any hasty decisions.
Syed Kirmani, Yashpal Sharma, Madan Lal, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Sandeep Patil, Kirti Azad and had featured in the memorable final, played at the Lord’s on June 25, 1983 .
Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, who have led the ongoing agitation against Brij Bhushan, took their protest to Haridwar on May 30 but wefre persuaded not to carry out their threat of immersing their medals into the Ganga.
“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 winning team reads.
“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 further reads.
The wrestlers’ protest has gained significant attention from both sporting enthusiasts and the general public, with several prominent personalities and athletes from other disciplines expressing their solidarity with wrestlers.
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, including, importantly, the sport’s global governing body United World Wrestling (UWW) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
