Legendary India cricketers Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina have found themselves in hot soup after para-badminton player Manasi Joshi slammed them for mocking disabilities in an Instagram reel.
Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina were part of the India Champions team that won the World Championship of Legends tournament for retired cricketers, beating Pakistan Champions on Saturday in Edgbaston.
Following the win, Harbhajan Singh shared an Instagram reel in which he, Yuvraj Singh, and Suresh Raina are seen limping while grooving to the latest Bollywood chartbuster, Tauba Tauba.
"Body ki Tauba Tauba ho Gayi in 15 days legends cricket.. Every part of the body is sore. Straight competition to our brothers @vickykaushal09 @karanaujla our version of Tauba Tauba dance, What a SONG," read the caption.
However, para-badminton star Manasi Joshi was offended by how Harbhajan Singh and other cricketers mocked disabilities in the reel. Manasi, a former world no. 1 in her SL3 badminton category, criticized the cricketers’ for mocking the gait patterns of people with disability in a comment on the post.
“This isn’t legendary if you’re mocking the gait patterns of people with polio. This will enable bullying on young children with disabilities in India,” Manasi added.
“Wanted more responsibility from the stars that you all are, please do not mock at the gait patterns of people with disabilities. This isn’t funny. You don’t know how much harm your behavior can do. The appreciation you’re getting from people around is appalling to see. This reel of yours is going to encourage that it is ok to make fun of the walking patterns of people with disabilities for a few laughs. More young children with disabilities will be bullied by using this reel. If any of you athletes would have done responsible community service in the disability space area, you all would not have come up with this reel. I’m scared how the PR agencies of these athletes approved this reel for the public platform, I’m really disappointed in you @harbhajan3 @sureshraina3 and all the people in the comments section who are appropriating this reel,” Manasi lamented.
