Wrestlers Protest: The Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and India’s World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev have backed the protesting wrestlers. Earlier, World Championship medalist Vinesh Phogat revealed her dissatisfaction with other athletes’ lack of support for their protest. After Neeraj’s statement, netizens were quick to point out the silence from top cricketers like Virat Kohli.
On Twitter, the Olympic champion expressed his hurt at seeing athletes fighting for justice. “They have worked hard to represent our great nation and make us proud. As a nation, we are responsible for safeguarding the integrity and dignity of every individual, athlete or not,” the Tokyo 2020 gold medallist stated.
The top wrestlers in the nation have been protesting since Sunday at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, calling for the release of the conclusions of the oversight panel that looked into the sexual harassment claims made against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
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Neeraj Chopra and Kapil Dev show support
Neeraj is possibly the first active elite athlete to speak out in support of the wrestlers who are calling for a fair investigation against BJP leader Brij Bhushan, who is being accused of sexual harassment.
Tu v kuch bol de Bhai @imVkohli
— Vijay (@Bazingaa_SC) April 28, 2023
On Thursday, Kapil Dev, the captain of the 1983 cricket team that won the World Cup, posted a story on Instagram about the demonstrations by wrestlers along with a picture of Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia with the message “Will they ever get justice?”
‘Say Something Virat Kohli’
After Neeraj Chopra statement, fans called out Virat Kohli for his statement.
Tu v kuch bol de Bhai @imVkohli
— Vijay (@Bazingaa_SC) April 28, 2023
Earlier, Vinesh Phogat had stated that she was “pained” to see that “they don’t have the courage” to stand up to people in power, pointing to the silence of prominent cricketers and other elite athletes.
“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 told Indian Express.
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