‘We didn’t ask for…’: Protesting wrestlers break silence on exemption from Asian Games trials (file picture)
Wrestlers’ protest: Facing opposition from fellow wrestlers for receiving exemption from Asian Games trials, the protesting wrestlers on Saturday denied demanding such a favour from IOA and stated they’ll stop wrestling whether it is proved.
London Olympic bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt on Friday questioned if these grapplers had been agitating to get such favours and exhorted the junior wrestlers, their coaches and fogeys to lift voice in opposition to this injustice.
“We did not ask for exemption from trials, just asked for time to prepare,” stated Sakshi after going reside on social media. “If you had problems with one-bout trial, you should have gone to the sports minister. But you chose to spread poison through social media,” Bajrang stated.
“We are ready to quit wrestling if it is proved that we asked for exemption. We never wrote any letter for exemption.” It was first reported by PTI on Thursday that six protesting wrestlers — the trio, Bajrang’s spouse Sangeeta Phogat, Sakshi’s husband Satywart Kadian and Jitender Kinha — should win only one bout in opposition to the winner of stage-one trials to be on the Indian staff for the Asian Games and World Championships.
The wrestlers additionally vowed to proceed their combat. “We will continue our fight till Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is punished, we are waiting for chargesheet,” Vinesh stated. Sakshi, Bajrang and Vinesh Phogat have been demanding arrest of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for allegedly sexually harassing girls wrestlers.
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