Wrestlers' Protest: Neeraj Chopra, Virender Sehwag extend support to grapplers, say 'it hurts'

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Wrestlers' Protest: A day after Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha slammed the agitating grapplers for their sit-in at Jantar Mantar demanding action against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, star athlete Neeraj Chopra extended his support to the wrestlers.

Calling for 'quick action' from the authorities, Chopra on Friday (April 28) in a post on social media said the authorities should ensure that justice is served. Later, India cricketer Virender Sehwag stood in support of the wrestlers.

The Tokyo Olympics gold medallist expressed his disappointment a day after PT Usha came down heavily on the wrestlers for hitting the streets to resume their protests instead of approaching its athletes' commission to lodge their complaints against the WFI chief.

Ace javelin thrower Chopra, who scripted history by winning India's first-ever gold medal in athletics at the Olympics, said "it hurts" to see the wrestlers taking to the street in search of justice. ( We always wanted an impartial probe, gave chance to wrestlers to present their case: Anurag Thakur)

He tweeted, "It hurts me to see our athletes on the streets demanding 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. What's happening should never happen.

"This is a sensitive issue, and must be dealt with in an impartial and transparent manner. Pertaining authorities must take quick action in order to ensure that justice is served." ( Wrestlers' Protest: Grapplers on streets tarnishing India's image, amounts to indiscipline - IOA chief PT Usha)

2008 Beijing Olympics gold medal winner Abhinav Bindra and legendary India cricketer Kapil Dev had also come out in support of the wrestlers. Sehwag took to his Twitter handle to term it a sensitive issue and demanded a fair probe.

The elite wrestlers - who are the face of the protest - had expressed their disappointment over PT Usha's comments. Rio Olympics bronze medallist, Sakshi Malik told reporters on Thursday, "We feel hurt by PT Usha's comment."

"She is not supporting us despite being a woman herself. What indiscipline have we done? We are sitting here peacefully. If we had got justice, we would not have done this," Sakshi added further.

The wrestlers have also claimed that the members of the Oversight Committee and other officials of the Sports Ministry stopped taking their calls. Wrestler Vinesh Phogat said that they called PT Usha as well but she didn't answer their call either and feared her comment came under pressure.

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, who has remained silent for the first four days of the second Wrestlers Protest, said on Thursday that he heard the grievances of wrestlers three months ago and took action accordingly while mentioning the efforts of the government for the athletes.