Athletes caught in crosshairs for preaching peace

Indian sports superstars who propagated peace during the cross border tensions between neighbours India and Pakistan had to endure the public’s wrath for going against the public sentiments.

The latest to join the rank was Sift Kaur Samra, the Indian rifle shooter, who amongst other things is the reigning gold medallist of the Hangzhou Asian Games in 50m three positions competition.

Her instagram post that said “No war in Punjab #PEACEFOR Punjab” angered a lot of Indians on the social media for seemingly siding with the enemy.

“Can’t understand how people can justify this?? No war in India if she would have posted no problem!! But she posted only for Punjab, while Jammu, Rajasthan & Gujarat Haryana are also in massive trouble!!! I don’t belong to this mindset so I won’t bear this #IndiaPakistanWar,” a user said on his X account.

Sift, won a gold medal in ISSF World Cup in Buenos Aires, though, was not perturbed and called it a minor issue, one that does not affect her at all. “How does it matter (to me). People have a lot of free time and so they react instantly. I have not deleted that post as I did not say anything wrong,” Sift told The Tribune from her Faridkot home on Saturday.

She further welcomed the peace that was announced on Saturday. “It is very good news as a lot of families were suffering and were under a lot of stress. Now no more,” she added.

A few days earlier, former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu was also targeted for posting against a full blown out war.

His post on X ‘An eye for an eye makes the world blind’ triggered an internet storm. “The best time to delete this tweet is now. India didn’t blink first but after what happened in Pahalgam, it can’t keep its eyes shut,” said a user.

Rayudu had to then clarify in another post that his previous post was not a sign of weakness. “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” Let’s remember — this isn’t a call for weakness, but a reminder of wisdom. Justice must stand firm, but never lose sight of humanity. We can love our nation fiercely and still hold compassion in our hearts. Patriotism and peace can walk hand in hand,” he said.

Even two time Olympic medallist and javelin super star Neeraj Chopra was not spared of the public wrath. His only fault was that he answered a sports journalist’s question about whether he had invited reigning Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem to the Neeraj Chopra Classic that was to be held in Bengaluru on May 24.

Days after the Pahalgam attack, where 26 Indians were killed by the terrorists, the greatest Indian track & field star was abused and even his family was not spared. “It pains me that I have to explain myself to people who are targeting me and my family with no good reason. We are simple people, please don’t make us out to be anything else. There are so many false narratives that certain sections of the media have created around me, but just because I do not speak up, it doesn’t make it true,” Chopra had said in his statement.

“I also find it difficult to understand how people switch opinions. When my mother had made an innocent comment a year ago, there was an outpouring of praise for her views. Today, the same people haven’t held back from targeting her,” he added.