Renowned wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and so forth. have taken to the streets, demanding justice over the sexual harassment allegations they’ve made in opposition to the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Awaiting motion to be taken, the wrestlers have been sleeping on the streets, urging authorities to file an FIR in opposition to WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over the ‘Me Too’ allegations which were made. As clouds of uncertainty proceed to loom, Vinesh Phogat has questioned the silence of cricketers and a lot of different prime Indian sportspersons.

Speaking to the Indian Express, Vinesh launched a scathing assault on the nation’s prime cricketers, asking why they have been silent on the matter once they’ve typically taken to social media, commenting on the athletes’ achievements at phases just like the Olympics or Commonwealth Games.

“The entire country worships cricket but not even a single cricketer has spoken up. We aren’t saying that you speak in our favour, but at least put up a neutral message and say there should be justice for whichever party. This is what pains me… Be it cricketers, badminton players, athletics, boxing…”

“It’s not like we don’t have big athletes in our country. There are cricketers… During the Black Lives Matter movement in the US, they showed their support. Don’t we deserve even that much,” she requested.

We need justice. #WrestlersProtest#sexualharassment pic.twitter.com/HOKMUjccsi

— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) April 24, 2023

Vinesh puzzled if it is the sponsorship agreements the cricketers and different sportspersons have that’s forcing them to maintain quiet or if it is the ‘system’ that they’re afraid of.

“But we don’t know what they are afraid of. I understand that they may be concerned that this could affect their sponsorship and brand endorsement deals. Maybe that’s why they are afraid to associate themselves with athletes who are protesting. But it pains me,” she mentioned.

“You do come forward to congratulate us when we win something. Even the cricketers tweet when that happens. Abhi kya ho gaya? (What has happened now?) Are you so afraid of the system? Or maybe there’s something fishy going on there too? (Unke daal mein bhi kaala hai, yeh maan ke chale hum?),” she added.

A heartbroken Vinesh mentioned that those that have not put a phrase out on the matter do not actually have a coronary heart.

“Log kehte hai wrestlers ka dimaag ghutno mein hota hai (People say wrestlers’ mind is not in the right place). But I’ll say our dil (heart), dimaag (mind)… everything is in the right place. Other athletes need to check where their mind is. Dil toh unke paas hai hi nahi(They don’t have a heart),” she mentioned.

The grappler additionally requested the cricketers and different athletes to not come out supporting them once they win a medal for the nation if they can not assist them in these occasions.

“You put photos, you put brand collaborations… can’t you put one post saying there should be justice for us. That’s all we request,” she mentioned. “If we don’t deserve their support in these times of struggle then, God willing, if we win a medal tomorrow – and we will work very hard for it – don’t come to congratulate us. Don’t say you had faith in our abilities because you didn’t – that’s why you are doubting us now,” she mentioned.