Wrestlers halt plan to immerse medals in Ganga, give five days time to government
Country’s top wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, on Tuesday drove to the holy town of Haridwar in Uttar Pradesh to immerse their medals in Ganga river to intensify their protest against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh but an intervention by a senior farmer’s leader prompted them to postpone their plans for the time being.
Bharatiya Kisan Union’s Naresh Tikait collected the World and Olympic medals from the wrestlers protesting against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is facing sexual harassment allegations, and sought five days time before taking the next step.
The wrestlers had reached Har ki Pauri in Haridwar to immerse the medals where a large crowd had gathered. Sakshi, Vinesh and Sangeeta, another wrestler and cousin of Vinesh, were seen sobbing.
As a mark of their protest, wrestlers first stood in silence at the Har ki Pauri for about 20 minutes. Later, they sat on the banks of the river holding the medals and citations.