For the past month, the Indian wrestler Phogat has been residing on a dirty Delhi pavement in protest against the federation’s senior official for harassing and abusing female athletes.
The protests may put an end to India’s hopes of earning another wrestling medal at the Olympics the following year and have damaged the nation’s chances of taking home a medal at the forthcoming championships.
Wrestlers Jeopardize
The World Championship in September serves as a gateway for the Olympics as select events are designated by the International Olympic Committee as qualifying events for the competitions. Although the athletes are still practicing at the protest location, experts are concerned that this may not be enough. The physical demands of wrestling make it a sport that needs continual practice.
Due to their protesting for ulterior motives, Punia and Phogat have already lost out on some significant competitions this year. Wrestlers build up their strength throughout the first few months of training to be able to handle the “brutal level” that awaits them.
- Phogat’s protests against the federation’s senior official have damaged India’s chances of winning a wrestling medal.
- Wrestling is a sport that requires continual practice to qualify for the Olympics.
- Sakshi Malik protests the lack of due process for severe claims.
They perform at their utmost strength—what is referred to as “explosive power”—in the coming months. The body has been allowed time to rest and recover during the past month. For the wrestlers to resume full training, Mr. Sengupta proposes that the protests be put to an end by the next week.
In Delhi, where they are encircled by police and fans, the athletes are protesting. They change back into wrestlers before sunrise and practice for an hour or so at a nearby facility. The fact that their living arrangements are far from ideal makes it more difficult to stay focused.
The first Indian woman to win an Olympic wrestling medal, Sakshi Malik, stated that although life is difficult, it is the only way they have ever known. Justice and the reasons why due process was not followed for severe claims are at the center of the wrestlers’ protest.
Even though they acknowledge that they feel “rather disposable,” they vow to keep on protesting until their demands are satisfied. Phogat thinks it will be a difficult pill to swallow because they had a chance to take home the medal.
