Wrestlers fight in #MeToo protest

Rosie Batsford, News Editor, explains the Indian wrestlers’ support

AGROUP including some of India’s top female wrestlers was temporarily detained on the 28th May by police, whilst marching into a parliament building. They were demanding the resignation and subsequent arrest of Indian wrestling chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, following sexual allegations against female athletes.

These protests against the national wrestling federation have been ongoing since February. Two-time World Championship winner Vinesh Phogat, amongst others, have taken to living on the streets of Delhi near government buildings, abandoning training regimes and missing major competitions as part of their protests. Concerns are spreading across the country that this protest action may impact the odds of bringing medals home at the 2024 Olympics. However, Bajrang Punia, in an interview with the BBC, is confident in her decision to prioritise women’s safety in wrestling:

“The entire country has pinned its hopes on us to get another medal — and we really want to — but here we are, sitting for 30 days with no resolution […] People say we are protesting for personal gains. But not getting to compete is the worst thing that could happen to a player.”

International support for the team has been strong, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) condemning the arrests and also the wrestling federation’s gross abuse of female athletes, which remains a large issue within women in sport who now feel safe enough to speak out against past abuse.

Interrailing craze

Josie Sharp, International Editor, gives tips on how to do interrailing right this summer this also makes for an easy, affordable commute to the airport. This is definitely something to consider, as trains from Exeter to London, for instance, can easily end up double as expensive as your flights. If you’ve budgeted in advance for a trip, you shouldn’t be stressing about every coffee you buy or pastry you eat — after exam season you probably deserve a break, so enjoy it!

INTERRAILING holidays are fast becoming the student holiday to go on due to the affordability and flexibility of hopping on trains to different countries. In Europe, it is possible to visit up to 33 countries through various train routes all of which offer something different, depending on what type of holiday you and your friends are looking for! However, hundreds of young people interrail every summer so the trains are busy, and the prices of hotels can be sky high, so here are some tips.

Reserve your Seating on Trains: No one wants to sit in the corridor of a crammed train for five hours whilst crossing borders in the scorching summer heat, so this is very important for comfort. Your interrailing pass does not cover seat reservations so make sure to organise this on their site before rushing on the platform.

Where to Stay: Depending on your budget your group (or yourself if you are solo travelling) will be willing to either splurge or draw the money strings on your accommodation. Hostels are almost always a safe bet, especially in the summertime where it will be full of young people to meet, but always check the reviews before putting down deposits. Interrailing is a great holiday idea for yourself and your friends to make lifelong memories. So, make sure you follow these tips to enjoy it to the fullest!