Deepak Punia, a 26-year-old wrestler from Haryana, India, has voiced concerns over the negative impact of the protests in Indian wrestling on athletes' careers, including his own. The protests, led by prominent wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh due to allegations of sexual harassment, have resulted in a temporary suspension of the WFI. This disruption has led to fewer international competitions and training opportunities, which Punia believes are crucial for improvement. He noted that after 2023, many tournaments were halted, limiting exposure and competition frequency. Punia's last significant achievement was a silver medal at the 2023 Asian Games, following a disappointing 11th-place finish at the 2025 World Championships, which he attributed to inadequate preparation and lack of quality sparring partners. Despite winning the recent National Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda, he faces eligibility issues for the upcoming Asian Games selection trials due to existing WFI regulations.