'Blood, sweat, and medals for the country': Rahul Gandhi joins Bajrang Punia in wrestling drill amid WFI row
Dec 27, 2023
Jhajjar (Haryana) [India], December 27 : After arriving in Haryana's Jhajjar district and engaging in discussions with wrestlers, including Olympian Bajrang Punia, on Wednesday, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi praised the efforts, hard work, patience, and unmatched discipline of the athletes. 
Rahul Gandhi also participated in a wrestling drill with Bajrang Punia at the Akhara. 
"A player brings a medal for his country by watering the soil with his blood and sweat, with years of hard work, patience, and impeccable discipline. Today, I reached the wrestling ring of brother Virendra Arya in Charar village of Jhajjar and discussed it with other wrestlers, including Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia," Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X. 
"There is only one question: if these players, the daughters of India, have to leave the fight in their arena and fight for their rights and justice on the streets, then who will encourage their children to choose this path? These are innocent, straightforward, and simple people from farmer families; let them serve the tricolour. Let them make India proud with full honour and respect," added Rahul Gandhi.
On Wednesday morning, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reached Virender Arya Akhara in Chhara village of Jhajjar district and interacted with wrestlers, including Olympian Bajrang Punia.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi interacted with the wrestlers and Coach Virendra Arya at the Akhara. The Akhara has been the training ground for several Olympians.
After Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's visit to Jhajjar, wrestler Bajrang Punia said that Rahul Gandhi came to see their wrestling routine.
"He came to see our wrestling routine. He did wrestling. He came to see the day-to-day activities of a wrestler," said Bajrang Punia.
Bajrang's Coach Virendra Arya said the Congress MP's visit was a surprise, and they were not informed of this.
"Nobody told us that he's coming. We were practising here, and he came all of a sudden...He reached here around 6:15 am...He did exercise with us, and then he told us about his exercise and sport. He has a lot of knowledge about sports...Nationals will take place, but what would be done with this issue at hand?... What could he (Rahul Gandhi) do; only the government can do something," Coach Arya said.
Rahul Gandhi's visit to the Akhara follows a visit by his sister and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi to the house of Olympian Sakshi Malik shortly after she had decided to quit the sport following the controversial elections of the Wrestling Federation.
India's wrestling has seen a major shift since the conclusion of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections last week.
Former WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's aide Sanjay Singh was elected as the new president on Thursday, which caused a major disappointment among the wrestlers who were protesting against former WFI head Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
After Singh's victory in the WFI elections, an emotional Sakshi Malikkh announced her retirement from wrestling while addressing a press conference in the national capital. However, there was another twist when the Sports Ministry suspended the newly elected body of the WFI.
Shortly after Bajrang Punia returned his Padma Shri, another Olympian Vinesh Phogat announced on Tuesday that she would also return her Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Award.
On Sunday Punia said he would not take back his Padma Shri award that he returned to the government until justice is given to his "sisters and daughters" fighting against sexual harassment and their perpetrators.
Meanwhile, the Union Sports Ministry on Sunday instructed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to form an ad-hoc committee to manage and control the affairs of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), as per a source from the ministry.
