Wrestlers protest: Sad that PT Usha didn’t understand pain of women athletes despite being a woman, says Bajrang

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha’s comments on the ongoing wrestlers protest has not gone down well with the athletes.

Hours after Usha on Thursday said the grapplers lacked discipline as they hit the streets to protest against WFI chief, star wrestler Bajrang Punia criticised decorated track and field athlete.

Usha told reporters that wrestlers should have approached IOA instead of resuming their protest against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on the streets. Star wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik are protesting against WFI chief, three months after the wrestlers alleged the federation chief of sexual harassment and WFI of mishandling funds and mismanagement.

“Our feeling is that for sexual harassment complaints, IOA has a committee and athletes’ commission. Instead of going to the street (again), they should have come to us, but they have not at all come to IOA,” Usha told reporters. “They are sitting on a dharna and asking all political parties to join them, and that is what disappoints me.”

Speaking to Rajdeep Sardesai on India Today, Bajrang Punia reaffirmed that he and fellow wrestlers will continue to protest until and unless they get justice. Punia also criticised Usha for not understanding the pain of women athletes despite being a woman.

“Until and unless we get justice, we will continue to protest,” Punia said on India Today.

“I feel sad after knowing PT Usha mam’s comment because we consider her a good athelete. She didn’t understand the pain of women despite being a woman. For the last three months we have been waiting for justice and now when they are calling it indiscipline I think they can’t understand the pain of athletes despite being a woman. I feel very sad,” Punia added on India Today.

Earlier, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said that the wrestlers’ protest is spoiling the country’s image and urged them to come to the athletes’ commission instead of staging a protest on the streets.

The wrestlers returned to Jantar Mantar on April 23 and said that the Delhi Police refused to file an FIR against WFI chief after seven female wrestlers, including a minor, complained against him of sexual harassment.