Wrestlers' Protest: United World Wrestling 'Strongly' Denounces Treatment Meted Out to Wrestlers

NEW DELHI: The top wrestlers from India have been subjected to harsh abuse while they are protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, according to a forceful statement from United World Wrestling. Additionally, if the elections are not held within the allotted period, the UWW has threatened to suspend the national federation.

In a statement, the international governing body of wrestling stated that it has been monitoring the developments surrounding the wrestlers' protest against Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. But because the wrestlers accused him of harassing multiple women, including a juvenile, in a sexual manner, he is no longer in the said position. On Sunday, while the wrestlers were marching toward the new parliament building from the protest venue, they were also arrested.

"The events of these last days are even more worrying that the wrestlers were arrested and temporarily detained by the police for initiating a march of protest. The site where they had been protesting for more than a month has also been cleared out by the authorities.

"UWW firmly condemns the treatment and detention of the wrestlers. It expresses its disappointment over the lack of results of the investigations so far. UWW urges the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the allegations," the United World Wrestling said in its statement.

"UWW will request further information about the next elective general assembly from the IOA and the Ad-hoc Committee of the WFI. The 45-day deadline that was initially set to hold this elective assembly shall be respected. Failing to do so may lead UWW to suspend the federation, thereby forcing the athletes to compete under a neutral flag," the statement further read.

Leading wrestlers from India, including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik, have been demonstrating at Jantar Mantar for well over a month. For violating security during the opening of the new Parliament building, they were taken into custody and arrested by the police. They travelled to Haridwar after being freed with the intention of immersing their medals, but they didn't, and they have since been given a five-day deadline.

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