Paris Olympics 2024: With just seven months remaining for the Paris Games 2024, Olymipic medallist Bajrang Punia urged the Sports Ministry on Saturday to fresh start the wrestling activities. The wrestler also said no one from the officials seemed to have taken the preparations for the highly expected tournament seriously. The turmoil within the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) forced the top wrestling action on hold after the wrestlers protest which has been going on since January. पिछले कई महीना से कुश्ती का कामकाज ठप है. न कोई नेशनल हुआ है और न ही खिलाड़ियों को तैयार करने के लिए कैम्प लगे हैं. 7 महीने बाद ओलंपिक खेल भी हैं लेकिन कोई भी ओलंपिक के लिए गंभीर नहीं दिख रहा जबकि पिछले चार ओलंपिक्स में कुश्ती ने लगातार चार मेडल दिए हैं.खेल मंत्रालय से निवेदन…— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) December 30, 2023Turmoil in WFIThe controversy surrounding Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh intensified as the prominent wrestlers, including Olympic medalists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, along with World Championship medalist Vinesh Phogat, accused him of sexual harassment. The Delhi High Court is actively reviewing the case. Following the protest against Brij Bhushan, the WFI conducted the election for the new chief. Sanjay Singh was declared as the new WFI chief, who was alleged to be a close aide of the former WFI chief. However, the election of the new WFI chief failed to reinstate normalcy forcing the Sports Ministry to suspend Sanjay Singh of its post. Earlier, in response to Sanjay Singhs election as WFI chief on December 21, Sakshi Malik announced her retirement from wrestling. Additionally, Bajrang Punia returned his Padma Shri, and Vinesh Phogat decided to surrender her Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award. The Olympic bronze medal winner further said the preparation for the Olympics needed urgent attention.Bajrang Punias concernsRaising concerns over the ongoing situation, Bajrang Punia wrote on his official X, account, Wrestling activities have come to a standstill for the last several months. Neither has any nationals been held nor have any camps been organised to prepare the players (for Paris Olympics).Furthermore, he said, There is an Olympic Games after seven months but no one seems serious about it. Wrestling has given four consecutive medals in the last four Olympics.” Punia added, So, I request the Sports Ministry to start all wrestling activities as soon as possible so that the future of the players can be saved.”
