Virendra Singh holds Padma Shri, Anita Sheoran supports women wrestlers’ respect

Bhim Awardee, Arjun Awardee and Padmashree Virendra Singh alias Gunga wrestler and Bhiwani Anita Sheoran, who contested the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections, have called the suspension of the new body of WFI by the Sports Ministry of the Government of India as a good step. Virendra alias Gunga Pehalwan, while reacting on social media, wrote that he will not wear the Padma Shri until women wrestlers get full respect. On the other hand, Anita Sheoran said that WFI elections should be conducted afresh with impartiality under the supervision of a high level committee.

Sanjay Singh secured the presidency in the WFE elections, known for his proximity to former president and MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Following Sanjay Singh’s election, Sakshi Malik declared her departure from wrestling, while Bajrang Punia returned the Padmashree award. In response, the central government suspended the new WFI body, citing its failure to adhere to regulations, as stated by the Union Sports Ministry.

Bhiwani’s Anita Sheoran, Commonwealth Games winner and contesting Indian Wrestling Association election, said that the Indian Sports Ministry’s decision to suspend the newly appointed Indian Wrestling Association is welcome. The demand was being raised to have a woman president in the Indian Wrestling Association.Hence, their involvement in the wrestling union elections turned out unfortunate for the female athletes as the leadership remained with the same old members. There’s a call for fair, unbiased fresh elections for the Indian Wrestling Association, urging oversight by a high-level committee.

Virendra Singh alias Gunga Pehalwan, resident of Sasroli, Jhajjar, has given his reaction on the suspension of WFI on social media. He wrote that ‘I respect the decision of the Government of India but will wear the Padma Shri only when our country’s pride sister Sakshi Malik and the country’s women wrestling wrestlers get full respect. Inspiring the women wrestlers, she has written that go ahead sisters, we stand behind you. Jai Hind.’