India’s first individual Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra said he was left “haunted by the horrifying images” that had emerged of protesting Indian wrestlers on Sunday. The former rifle shooter called for establishing “independent safeguarding measures across sporting organisations”.
Some of India’s top wrestlers like Rio 2016 bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, Tokyo 2020 medallist Bajrang Punia and world championship medallist Vinesh Phogat were detained by Delhi Police on Sunday as they tried to march to the new Parliament building, as it was being inaugurated on Sunday, to hold a women’s ‘Mahapanchayat‘. As the wrestlers were being detained, they resisted, leading to dramatic images where wrestlers were being grabbed and lifted by multiple policewomen and put into buses.
“Last night was sleepless, haunted by the horrifying images of my fellow Indian wrestlers protesting. It’s high time we establish independent safeguarding measures across sporting organisations. We must ensure that if such situations arise, they are dealt with utmost sensitivity and respect. Every athlete deserves a safe and empowering environment,” tweeted Bindra.
Last night was sleepless, haunted by the horrifying images of my fellow Indian wrestlers protesting. It's high time we establish independent safeguarding measures across sporting organizations. We must ensure that if such situations arise, they are dealt with utmost sensitivity…
— Abhinav A. Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) May 29, 2023
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The police later filed FIRs against the trio of Bajrang, Vinesh, Sakshi and several others for violation of law and order.
Other Indian athletes have also spoken out against the way the wrestlers were treated by the police.
“Yeh dekh kar bohot dukh ho raha hai. There has to be a better way to deal with this,” tweeted Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra.
“Why does it have to come down to our wrestlers being dragged around without any consideration? This isn’t the way to treat anyone. I really hope this whole situation is assessed the way it should be,” added Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri.