Indian cricketers have come out in support of protesting wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik among others. The protest is against Brij Bhushan Singh, the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India, who is facing sexual misconduct allegations from female wrestlers. The cricketers voiced solidarity through social media, with Kapil Dev, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan, and Irfan Pathan among the retired Indian cricketers offering support.
Updated Apr 28, 2023 | 03:53 PM IST
Top Indian wrestlers got support from cricketers in their protest
Photo : IANS
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Indian cricket fraternity came out in support of the wrestlers
- Vinesh Phogat questioned their silence on the issue
- Neeraj Chopra and Abhinav Bindra had also supported the protesting wrestlers
The Delhi Police have yet to file an FIR in the matter, while the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has not completed their probe on the issue. The government-formed oversight committee has yet to make its findings public either.
Virender Sehwag wrestlers
Harbhajan singh wrestlers
On Thursday (April 27), Vinesh Phogat questioned cricketers for their silence and recalled how they had supported the Black Lives Matter (BLM) issue by taking the knee at the 2021 T20 World Cup.
“The entire country worships cricket but not even a single cricketer has spoken up. We aren’t saying that you speak in our favour, but at least put up a neutral message and say there should be justice for whichever party. This is what pains me… Be it cricketers, badminton players, athletics, boxing..,” said Vinesh Phogat to Indian Express.
“It’s not like we don’t have big athletes in our country. There are cricketers… During the Black Lives Matter movement in the US, they showed their support. Don’t we deserve even that much. But we don’t know what they are afraid of. I understand that they may be concerned that this could affect their sponsorship and brand endorsement deals. Maybe that’s why they are afraid to associate themselves with athletes who are protesting. But it pains me.
“You do come forward to congratulate us when we win something. Even the cricketers tweet when that happens. Abhi kya ho gaya? (What has happened now?) Are you so afraid of the system? Or maybe there’s something fishy going on there too? (Unke daal mein bhi kaala hai, yeh maan ke chale hum?,” she added.
Alongside cricketers, India’s only two individual Olympic gold medalists, Abhinav Bindra and Neeraj Chopra along with tennis legend Sania Mirza, also showed solidarity with wrestlers.
