Cloaked agendas? Or pure rebellion?

"For you, it is only a year. All the hard work we put into our game has been a waste of time. Some of us even fled our homes because women are not allowed to play sports in our families. There were no competitions, nor selections of any kind. What is the purpose of continuing? Now that we wasted one year, who will take the responsibility?" a young wrestler told Mid-Day.

A chorus of dissent and determination resonated in the capital last week as junior wrestlers gathered to voice their collective discontent against top wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat for halting their careers. Their collective outcry emerges from a deep-seated conviction, echoing the rallying cry for equity and fair treatment within the sporting realm.

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"They are famous figures, all three of them. Of course, they have strived hard to reach where they are now. They have got nothing to lose from here. But what about us? We don't have jobs, recognition, or any international medals. If there is no selection camp, how will our careers take shape? Most of us are not well off, even our families have started to give up on our dreams and aspirations. We don't want to quit and be married off. I don't want to blame anybody but it seems as if nobody cares about us," she lamented.

At the core of this demonstration lies a mosaic of grievances, each tile representing disparities and impediments faced by junior wrestlers in the pursuit of their decade-old ambitions. Their dissent is not a denigration of these esteemed athletes' accomplishments, rather a plea for broader systemic changes, seeking a level playing field for all budding wrestlers.

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Braving the cold conditions, about 300 junior wrestlers on January 3 congregated in a silent yet resounding protest, beseeching custodians of the sport to address grievances that they perceive as barriers hindering their paths to success. ‘Kar diya desh ki kushti ko barbad (they have ruined wrestling)', 'UWW (United World Wrestling) kushti ko inse bachao (UWW, save our wrestling from these three wrestlers)' read the banners.

Three days after the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections were held following repeated warnings from the global body UWW, the saga took a new turn after the sports ministry suspended the newly-elected body for disregarding the established legal norms, while appearing to be still in control of former office-bearers.

It came to be seen that the newly-elected WFI president Sanjay Singh acted primarily on the advice of ex-chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in calling for junior nationals in the latter's stronghold, Gonda, and later announcing the senior nationals. Naturally, the secretary cried foul and informed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) that the decisions were taken without his knowledge and were also against the constitution rules. As a consequence, several other wrestlers, who could have competed in the junior categories for a final time, missed out on their chance after the competition was cancelled.

"It was a symbolic protest. We are giving 10 days' time to the government to revoke the suspension of the new WFI and allow it to hold age group nationals. If they don't do it, we will start returning our Arjuna and other awards to the government just like Bajrang and Vinesh have done," Greco-Roman wrestler Sunil Rana, also an Arjuna awardee and 2023 Asian Games bronze medallist, told PTI, on the sidelines of the protest which lasted three hours.

However, the protest bore fruit after a three-member committee of the IOA announced dates for the National Championships following which there will be a national camp for all the wrestlers. "The Committee acknowledges the concerns raised by the young wrestlers and is committed to address the issues. The Committee is planning to organise the national championships for the U-15 and U-20 categories within the next 6 weeks at LNIPE, Gwalior," read an official press release.

Within the cacophony of their protest, individual stories weaved a tapestry of struggle and resilience all along. Consider a young wrestler from a humble background, brimming with potential, but remaining in the dark for an entire year. Or envision another wrestler who is struggling to make ends meet in search of one golden opportunity to prove herself on the mat. These narratives intersect to form a compelling narrative, one that embodies the collective yearning for an environment that nurtures talent irrespective of their background or affiliations.

"They (Punia, Phogat, and Malik) are not losing any opportunity, we are. The difference is they are choosing to squander it because, at this point, they can. I heard Sakshi had even accused us of running Brij Bhushan's propaganda. I can't understand, we are in this fight together, our fight is not against you all, we are raising concerns only because it has impacted our careers, especially juniors. My sincere request to everybody, please don't mix politics with sports, let the two stay apart," a Greco-Roman wrestler from UP's Baghpat district, said on conditions of anonymity. "Our careers now rest in the hands of the government. Please don't let us quit this sport," he signed off.