'83 heroes back wrestlers, for action grows clamour

India’s 1983 World Cup-winning squad extended its support to top wrestlers protesting against sexual harassment on Friday, the loudest endorsement of the ongoing stir and one that added to mounting pressure for action against six-time parliamentarian and former wrestling federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh after grisly allegations against the strongman by the complainants became public.

- Shantanu Srivastava

In a joint statement, the world champions said they were distressed after seeing the visuals of wrestlers being manhandled but also hoped that the law of the land will prevail. The statement came on a day leaders from 170 khaps or clan-based bodies gave the government a week’s ultimatum to take action against Singh, and said they will march to Delhi and launch a fresh agitation.

“We are distressed and disturbed at the unseemly visuals of our champion wrestlers being manhandled. We are also most concerned that they are thinking of dumping their hard-earned medals into river Ganga,” said the statement released by the players.

“We urge them not to take any hasty decision in this matter and also fervently hope that their grievances are heard and resolved quickly. Let the law of the land prevail,” it added.

The backing of the legendary team — led by Kapil Dev, and with Sunil Gavaskar, Mohinder Amarnath, K Srikanth, Roger Binny, Syed Kirmani, Yashpal Sharma, Madan Lal, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Sandeep Patil, Kirti Azad, Dilip Vengsarkar, Ravi Shastri, Sunil Valson — is the most high-profile endorsement so far of the stir led by Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia, Rio Games bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, and double World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat.