Facing criticism from all quarters for being insensitive towards the protesting wrestlers, IOA president PT Usha on Wednesday met them at the protest site and assured the grapplers of her support, saying she was first an athlete and then an administrator.

Former sprinter Usha had criticised the wrestlers for resuming their protest and said that the wrestlers should have shown some discipline. She had said that they had tarnished the country’s image by hitting the streets. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) chief was condemned for not understanding the wrestlers’ point of view despite being a former athlete and a woman herself.