Wrestlers Protest: The 1983 World Cup-winning Indian cricket team has expressed its concern about the treatment of the wrestlers’ protest. The team has also advised the protesting wrestlers to stay away from making any hasty decision.
The Indian team that won the 1983 ICC World Cup has offered its support for the wrestlers’ protest and encouraged them not to make any hasty judgments. On Friday, May 2, members of the World Cup-winning squad, including captain Kapil Dev and illustrious batter Sunil Gavaskar, issued a statement expressing concern about the treatment of the wrestlers.
Leading the wrestlers’ protest, which is calling for the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, are Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Vinesh Phogat. On May 30, when the demonstration moved to Haridwar, the demonstrators threatened to throw their medals into the Ganga.
The wrestlers were held by Delhi Police on May 28 for violating the law and order by parading in front of the new Parliament building without authorization. The protest location was evacuated by the police, who also made it plain that the wrestlers would not be permitted to return to Jantar Mantar. Many people were horrified to see how the police were treating the demonstrators, and now the World Cup-winning Indian cricket team has expressed their worry.
“We are upset and horrified by the unsightly footage of our champion wrestlers being mistreated. The 1983 World Cup winning squad sent a statement to PTI that said, “We are also quite disturbed that they are considering throwing their hard-earned medals into the Ganga.
“Those medals are not only their own, but also the pride and delight of the country. They required years of work, sacrifice, fortitude, and dedication. We strongly advise against making a hasty judgment in this case, and we also truly hope that their complaints will be acknowledged and immediately addressed. Let the law of the land govern,” said the declaration.
Under the guidance of Kapil Dev, India defied all odds to win their first-ever ICC World Cup in 1983. India began to rule the cricket world when they defeated the powerful West Indies at Lord’s in London. On June 25, 1983, the Indian team defeated the Caribbean squad in the final, led by the famous batter Sunil Gavaskar and the current BCCI president Roger Binny.
