18 young wrestlers from Odisha were forced to sit next to the toilet in the main compartment of the train as they traveled to Gorakhpur to participate in the National School Wrestling Championship. The novice athletes were forced to endure unsanitary and dangerous conditions throughout the journey. After a massive backlash on social media, Odisha’s School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond promised swift action against the officials responsible for the incident.
Speaking to India Today, Gond assured that an inquiry would be conducted and those responsible for the lapse would be held accountable. “We are launching an investigation into this incident. We need to find out what went wrong and who is responsible,” the minister said.
Gond’s response came amid widespread outrage online, with the ruling party criticized for its treatment of young athletes. The group, comprising 10 boys and 8 girls, allegedly faced inhumane conditions while traveling for a sports event in Uttar Pradesh. In addition to the dangerous and unsanitary environment, the children were forced to sit in the bitter cold during the winter months, further increasing concerns for their safety and well-being.
The visuals of 18 young wrestlers from Odisha being forced to sit near train toilets in the bitter cold is a national disgrace. These athletes traveled to Uttar Pradesh to represent our state in the National School Wrestling Championship.
This is true face of BJP pic.twitter.com/unrzPn8uds
— Navajyoti Patnaik (@NavjyotiPatnaik) December 23, 2025
Opposition parties in Odisha heavily criticized the state government over the incident. Despite the state projecting itself as a promoter of sports for more than a decade, political leaders and local residents have accused the ruling party of failing to fulfill its basic responsibilities towards young athletes.
“The visuals of 18 young wrestlers from Odisha being forced to sit near train toilets in the bitter winter is a national disgrace. These athletes were traveling to Uttar Pradesh to represent our state in the National School Wrestling Championship,” Congress leader Navajyoti Patnaik tweeted.
“This incident exposes the true face of the BJP government in Odisha. Though it claims to promote sports, nothing is planned on the ground. There were no confirmed tickets, no basic amenities and no respect for young talent. When sportspersons are treated with such apathy, how can we even begin to talk about building champions?” he added.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
December 23, 2025
