Picture Credit: Twitter
Indian wrestlers who are currently protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh at the Jantar Mantar, since April 23 have decided to miss a major wrestling tournament. The protesting wrestlers have decided to not be a part of the ranking series in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, which is to be held from June 1 to June 4, 2023. This will be the fourth major international tournament they will miss after the Zagreb and Alexandria Ranking Series in February and the senior Asian Championships in Astana last month.
It has been reported that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) contacted these wrestlers before sending their names for the tournament, but these players refused. As confirmed by wrestler Bajrang Punia, they have decided to miss the tournament. Speaking to a news portal, he said, "We are not going to participate without proper training. We are completely out of shape at the moment without a proper diet and routine. "We are sitting on protest, and this is our priority at the moment," he further added.
Apart from it, Bajrang had earlier spoken to the media and said that getting justice is more important than participating in the Asian Games. Meanwhile, despite being given directions by the Supreme Court of India to provide security, the wrestlers have refused the security and asked the policemen to return from the Jantar Mantar. Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik were provided with personal security officers, and they turned down the offer too.
