A wrestler, Jaskanwar Singh Gill, was denied to wear a Sikh headgear ‘patka’ during a wrestling competition in Turkey, last week. The Tarn Taran resident has asked the Sports Ministry to intervene in the matter as per the news report. The incident took place at an international amateur wrestling event, a week earlier.
As per a media report, Jaskaran Gill, aka Pehalwan Jassa Patti, was denied an opportunity to make his international debut as he was not allowed to participate with the headgear. The organisers of United World Wrestling (UWW), did not let him take the mat wearing the ‘patka’.
“The ministry should send a notice and ask the UWW that why it did not allow me to compete. International wrestling rules allow players to wear headgear that does not cause harm to opponents during bouts. On July 28, the referees refused to allow me to contest with a ‘Patka’ on and asked me to tie my hair. I refused. I want to fight this discrimination,” said Jaskaran Gill, while talking to HT.
The Sikh wrestler said that he had not been denied of wrestling in any of the prior wrestling events he participated in. His father Salwinder Singh, who is also a famed wrestler, echoed similar thoughts. He said that it was for the first time that he came across such an incident. It is not possible for male wrestlers to fight to have his hair tied.
Following the incident, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, said that the government would look into the matter.
