The Indian sporting fraternity on Friday put its weight behind the protesting wrestlers with Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra leading the way with a plea for "quick action" to ensure that justice is served.

Besides the champion javelin thrower, ace boxer Nikhat Zareen, tennis star Sania Mirza, hockey player Rani Rampal, former cricketers Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, Madan Lal and Navjot Singh Sidhu also came out in support of the wrestlers. Former India cricket captain Kapil Dev has also backed them. However, no present-day men cricketer has expressed solidarity till late on Friday.

The sports personalities expressed their views a day after Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha came down heavily on the wrestlers for hitting the streets to resume their protests instead of approaching its athletes’ commission.

The wrestlers have accused Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment and intimidation.

"It hurts me to see our athletes on the streets demanding justice. They have worked hard to represent our great nation and make us proud. As a nation, we are responsible for safeguarding the integrity and dignity of every individual, athlete or not. What’s happening should never happen," Neeraj tweeted on Friday morning.

"This is a sensitive issue, and must be dealt with in an impartial and transparent manner."

The wrestlers have now received support from the country’s only two individual Olympic champions, with Beijing Games shooting champion Abhinav Bindra too voicing his support on Wednesday. "It is deeply concerning to see our athletes finding it necessary to protest on the streets." he had tweeted.

The wrestlers, who include Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat, have been sitting at Jantar Mantar in the heart of the capital since last weekend.

Double world championship gold medallist Zareen said: "It breaks my heart to see our Olympic & World medallists in this state."

Sania tweeted: “As an athlete but more as a woman this is too difficult to watch... I hope whatever the truth is justice is served.. sooner rather than later."

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee also supported the protest. "We must all stand with the wrestlers who are protesting. They are speaking in one voice. Our sportspersons are the pride of our nation. They are champions. The guilty must be brought to book, irrespective of their political affiliation. Justice must prevail. Truth must win," she tweeted.

Written with inputs from PTI