Stalemate continues between top Indian wrestlers, government

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NEW DELHI, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- A meeting between India's top wrestlers and the federal Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, which lasted over four hours over the wrestlers' continued protests remained inconclusive on Friday.

The meeting that began at 22:00 hours on Thursday night ended at around 02:00 hours on Friday. Another round of meetings between the two sides is expected to be held later in the day.

The agitated wrestlers have been protesting in the heart of the Indian capital for the past three days, demanding the termination of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and disbanding the Federation. The protesting women alleged sexual harassment by Singh.

Amid protests, the wrestlers have declared that none of them would participate in any national or international tournament until their demands are met.

The protesting wrestlers include Bajrang Punia, who won a bronze in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, silver medalist at Tokyo 2020 Ravi Dahiya, bronze medalist at Rio 2016 Sakshi Malik, and many others who won laurels for the country in Commonwealth Games and World Championships in recent years.

They claim to be possessing enough evidence against Singh to prove the sexual harassment of women wrestlers. Most of the protesting wrestlers hail from the northern state of Haryana.

Meanwhile, Singh is adamant about not resigning from the post unless the allegations against him are proven. "Sexual harassment never happened. If even one athlete comes forward and proves this, I will hang myself," he told media on Thursday.

Singh has been at the helm of WFI for the past 12 years. The next WFI elections are due in March this year. "These protests against me are politically motivated as WFI elections are approaching," Singh told media persons.

According to media reports, the federal Sports Ministry has given Singh a 24-hour ultimatum to step down from his post. On the other hand, Singh has called a meeting of all states' wrestling associations on January 22 to discuss the evolving situation and the charges leveled against him. Enditem

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