‘Those medals are not only your own’: 1983 WC winning team urges protesting wrestlers not to take hasty decision

Members of 1983 World Cup winning Indian cricket team have expressed concern over the protesting wrestlers who have taken an extreme decision of immersing their medals into holy river Ganga.

The former India cricketers urged the elite athletes not to take a hasty decision and hoped their grievances will be heard and resolved. 

Popular wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia along with others have been continuing protests demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Birj Bhushan Sharan Singh for alleged sexual exploitation of women wrestlers.

Earlier on May 28, Delhi Police had detained the wrestlers for violation of law and order when they marched towards the new Parliament building without permission. Subsequently, police cleared the protest site and made it clear that the wrestlers will not be allowed back at Jantar Mantar. The police excess against the wrestlers invited criticism from different quarters.

Concerned over the development, the 1983 World Cup wining team has issued a statement.

“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,” the statement read.

“Those medals have involved years of effort, sacrifice, determination, and grit and are not only their own but the nation’s pride and joy. 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,” the statement further read.

Notably, under the leadership of legendry all-rounder Kapil Dev, the Indian cricket team got the better of the mighty West Indies in the memorable final played at the Lord’s on June 25, 1983 to clinch India’s first World Cup title. Sunil Gavaskar, Mohinder Amarnath, K Srikanth, Syed Kirmani, Yashpal Sharma, Madan Lal, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Sandeep Patil, Kirti Azad and Roger Binny were the other members of the World Cup winning Indian team.