[1/4] Simran Ahlawat, a wrestler, practices wrestling with another male wrestler at an akhara in New Delhi, India, June 19, 2023. The Dahiyas, along with nine female wrestlers and their parents to whom Reuters spoke, were determined that none of the young women would give up the sport, however. Instead, they are setting their eyes on WFI elections set for July to achieve their demand for reforms of a system that provides guidance to more than 53,000 young female wrestlers. "I can assure you that every girl will feel protected and we are working towards addressing all the concerns raised by female wrestlers," Sports Minister Anurag Thakur told Reuters. Yet in Haryana, home to more than 5,000 large and small wrestling schools with a history of turning out some of India's top female athletes, women wrestlers expressed dismay.

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Persons: Simran Ahlawat, aghast, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Narendra Modi's, Singh, Mona Dahiya, Deepika, Virendra Singh, Rajesh Ahlawat, Anurag Thakur, Anjani Kashyap, Rupam Jain, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: REUTERS, KHARKHODA, Wrestling Federation of India, Reuters, Sports Authority of, Sport, Rights Alliance, International Olympic Committee, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, Haryana, Kharkhoda, Sports Authority of India