Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, in response to the ongoing protests and suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India's (WFI) newly-elected body, visited Haryana to meet with wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia and Deepak Punia. The meeting took place in Chhara village at Virendra Akhara, where both Deepak and Bajrang began their wrestling careers.
During the visit, Rahul Gandhi actively participated in the wrestlers' daily exercise routine, engaging in wrestling and capturing the experience on video. Bajrang Punia shared that the Congress MP showed genuine interest, in learning about the intricacies of wrestling techniques, point systems, and training routines. The coach of Virendra Akhara echoed these sentiments, noting that Rahul Gandhi even tried the local cuisine, emphasizing the challenges faced by today's youth and highlighting the government's role in addressing these issues.
Rahul Gandhi's visit coincided with the suspension of the WFI's newly-elected body by the Sports Ministry, citing concerns about the influence of the former office bearers, who were previously suspended due to allegations of sexual harassment. The Indian Olympic Association is set to form an ad hoc committee to oversee the WFI's administration, following the ministry's suspension.
Wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, who have been advocating for a female president, welcomed the WFI suspension. The wrestlers had been protesting the removal of ex-chief Brij Bhushan and expressed dissatisfaction with the election of Sanjay Singh as the new WFI chief. The Sports Ministry, led by Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, urged the IOA to take control of the WFI, emphasizing concerns about the continued influence of the suspended officials.
