Vinesh Phogat accuses WFI President of sexual harassment, India’s high wrestlers protest

By PTI

NEW DELHI: In a startling revelation, a crying Vinesh Phogat on Wednesday alleged that Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been sexually exploiting girls wrestlers for a few years, a cost vehemently rejected by the sports activities administrator and BJP MP.

Vinesh, who has been at loggerheads with WFI for the reason that Tokyo Olympic Games, additionally claimed that a number of coaches on the nationwide camp in Lucknow have additionally exploited girls wrestlers, including there are a number of girls on the camp who approached the wrestlers on the behest of the WFI President.

The 28-year-old although clarified that she herself by no means confronted such exploitation however claimed that “one victim” was current on the ‘dharna’ they started at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday.

So disturbed was Vinesh that she together with Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang Punia had even met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to flag their points about three months again. “We had met the Home Minister and he had assured us that, ‘you will get justice’,” star wrestler Punia advised PTI, including that the ‘sit-in’ was their one other try to spotlight the prevailing points in Indian wrestling.

Vinesh additionally claimed that she had acquired dying threats on the behest of the WFI President from officers near him as a result of she dared to attract Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s consideration to a number of points plaguing Indian wrestling when she met him after the Tokyo Games.

“I know at least 10-20 women wrestlers who have told me about the sexual exploitation they faced at the hands of (the) WFI President. They told me their stories. I can’t take their names now but I can definitely reveal the names if we get to meet the Prime Minister and the Home Minister of the country,” Vinesh stated addressing the media after staging a four-hour ‘dharna’ at Jantar Mantar.

“I have received death threats from people who are close to the WFI President. If anything happens to any of us sitting here, only the WFI President will be responsible.”

Rio Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik, world championship medallist Sarita Mor, Sangeeta Phogat, Anshu Malik, Sonam Malik, Satyawart Malik, Jitender Kinha, Amit Dhankar and CWG medallist Sumit Malik have been amongst 30 wrestlers who assembled on the well-known protest web site.

Indian wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Anshu Malik stage a strike in opposition to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), in New Delhi. (Photo | PTI)

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, 66, was elected unopposed President of WFI for a 3rd consecutive time period in February 2019.

Taking be aware of the allegations, the sports activities ministry has sought an evidence from WFI and directed it to “furnish a reply within the next 72 hours on the allegations made.”

The ministry stated, “if WFI fails to furnish the reply within the next 72 hours, the Ministry will proceed to initiate action against the federation in terms of the provisions of the National Sports Development Code, 2011.” In view of the developments, the ministry has additionally cancelled the National camp, which was as a result of begin SAI centre in Lucknow on Wednesday.

Sitting beside Vinesh, Bajrang stated the federation is being run in an arbitrary method and they won’t compete in any worldwide competitors until the WFI President, who’s a minimum of a “dictator”, is eliminated.

“Our fight is not against the government or the Sports Authority of India (SAI). This is against WFI. ‘Yeh ab aar paar ki ladai hai’ (It’s a fight to the finish). We will continue this protest until WFI President is removed,” Bajrang stated.

“We will not compete in any international competition until the WFI President is removed. This is a fight to save Indian wrestling. While we are denied help and support of foreign coaches, the President has hired a foreign coach for his own academy in Gonda,” he later stated whereas addressing the media.

“He uses abusive language against wrestlers, we can even show you videos of that.”

In December 2021, the WFI President had slapped an overage wrestler through the under-15 nationwide championship when he insisted on competing after being disqualified. The sitting BJP MP from Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh rejected all the costs in opposition to him and refused to stop his publish.

“There is no truth in any of the allegations. Why should I quit? Even if one woman wrestler comes and proves the sexual harassment charge, I am ready to be hanged. There is an industrialist behind it (conspiracy),” stated the 66-year-old WFI President.

“There can be an investigation by the CBI or police. There is no dictatorship. These same wrestlers had met me a week back and did not say anything,” he added.

Responding to the allegation of dying threats given to Vinesh on his behalf, Brij Bhushan stated, “Why Vinesh did not talk to me or approached the police at that time? Why did she not meet the PM or the Sports Minister? Why is she saying this now?”

The WFI boss indicated that the brand new coverage and the foundations they’ve launched are maybe inflicting a little bit of discomfort to the wrestlers and that is why the protest. He stated the wrestlers are being requested to compete within the National Championships and seem in trials for honest choice, and there’s nothing incorrect with it.

“Different states host Nationals and all want the country’s best athletes to compete. None of these wrestlers has competed in the Nationals. We have made it clear that only those athletes who compete and win at the National Championship will be selected for the National camp.”

“The state of Haryana has been the pride of the country but we want to take wrestling to other states also. So we stopped the arrangements of states sending multiple teams at the Nationals,” Brij Bhushan stated.

“States like Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram are weak and we need to promote the game there. So we introduced National Open Championships apart from the regular Nationals and there also Haryana claimed 61 per cent of the medals,” he stated, including {that a} sure Tirath Rana was additionally deceptive the wrestlers.

Tirat Rana is a former wrestler who had tried to get into Haryana Wrestling Association however the sports activities physique was suspended by WFI and later a brand new affiliation, which had the backing of the nationwide federation, was fashioned.

Vinesh stated she is labelled an indisciplined athlete as a result of she dares to talk her thoughts.

“I am being tortured every day.”

Asked why they didn’t increase the problems earlier than, Vinesh stated, “These are powerful, influential people. We could not muster the courage. Now we were not left with any option. ‘Ab paani sar se paar ho raha hai’ (the limit has been reached). We have to think about the next generation of players as well.”

Adding to it, Bajrang stated, “We are approaching the end of our careers. For how long will we play? 2024, 2026 or maybe 2028 but it is a question of the entire wrestling fraternity.”

It could also be recalled that the WFI, whereas taking disciplinary motion in opposition to Vinesh for not carrying the official singlet through the Tokyo Games, had banned her however later lifted it after receiving a written apology from the athlete. Vinesh stated she didn’t put on that singlet as a result of it was “zero quality.”

Explaining his place, the WFI President stated that they have been going through motion from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for flouting the foundations and he needed to take motion in opposition to Vinesh out of compulsion as a result of he didn’t need a ban on India.

ALSO READ | WFI chief sexual harassment: DCW points discover to sports activities ministry, Delhi Police

NEW DELHI: In a startling revelation, a crying Vinesh Phogat on Wednesday alleged that Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been sexually exploiting girls wrestlers for a few years, a cost vehemently rejected by the sports activities administrator and BJP MP.

Vinesh, who has been at loggerheads with WFI for the reason that Tokyo Olympic Games, additionally claimed that a number of coaches on the nationwide camp in Lucknow have additionally exploited girls wrestlers, including there are a number of girls on the camp who approached the wrestlers on the behest of the WFI President.

The 28-year-old although clarified that she herself by no means confronted such exploitation however claimed that “one victim” was current on the ‘dharna’ they started at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday.

So disturbed was Vinesh that she together with Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang Punia had even met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to flag their points about three months again. “We had met the Home Minister and he had assured us that, ‘you will get justice’,” star wrestler Punia advised PTI, including that the ‘sit-in’ was their one other try to spotlight the prevailing points in Indian wrestling.

Vinesh additionally claimed that she had acquired dying threats on the behest of the WFI President from officers near him as a result of she dared to attract Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s consideration to a number of points plaguing Indian wrestling when she met him after the Tokyo Games.

“I know at least 10-20 women wrestlers who have told me about the sexual exploitation they faced at the hands of (the) WFI President. They told me their stories. I can’t take their names now but I can definitely reveal the names if we get to meet the Prime Minister and the Home Minister of the country,” Vinesh stated addressing the media after staging a four-hour ‘dharna’ at Jantar Mantar.

“I have received death threats from people who are close to the WFI President. If anything happens to any of us sitting here, only the WFI President will be responsible.”

Rio Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik, world championship medallist Sarita Mor, Sangeeta Phogat, Anshu Malik, Sonam Malik, Satyawart Malik, Jitender Kinha, Amit Dhankar and CWG medallist Sumit Malik have been amongst 30 wrestlers who assembled on the well-known protest web site.

Indian wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Anshu Malik stage a strike in opposition to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), in New Delhi. (Photo | PTI)

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, 66, was elected unopposed President of WFI for a 3rd consecutive time period in February 2019.

Taking be aware of the allegations, the sports activities ministry has sought an evidence from WFI and directed it to “furnish a reply within the next 72 hours on the allegations made.”

The ministry stated, “if WFI fails to furnish the reply within the next 72 hours, the Ministry will proceed to initiate action against the federation in terms of the provisions of the National Sports Development Code, 2011.” In view of the developments, the ministry has additionally cancelled the National camp, which was as a result of begin SAI centre in Lucknow on Wednesday.

Sitting beside Vinesh, Bajrang stated the federation is being run in an arbitrary method and they won’t compete in any worldwide competitors until the WFI President, who’s a minimum of a “dictator”, is eliminated.

“Our fight is not against the government or the Sports Authority of India (SAI). This is against WFI. ‘Yeh ab aar paar ki ladai hai’ (It’s a fight to the finish). We will continue this protest until WFI President is removed,” Bajrang stated.

“We will not compete in any international competition until the WFI President is removed. This is a fight to save Indian wrestling. While we are denied help and support of foreign coaches, the President has hired a foreign coach for his own academy in Gonda,” he later stated whereas addressing the media.

“He uses abusive language against wrestlers, we can even show you videos of that.”

In December 2021, the WFI President had slapped an overage wrestler through the under-15 nationwide championship when he insisted on competing after being disqualified. The sitting BJP MP from Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh rejected all the costs in opposition to him and refused to stop his publish.

“There is no truth in any of the allegations. Why should I quit? Even if one woman wrestler comes and proves the sexual harassment charge, I am ready to be hanged. There is an industrialist behind it (conspiracy),” stated the 66-year-old WFI President.

“There can be an investigation by the CBI or police. There is no dictatorship. These same wrestlers had met me a week back and did not say anything,” he added.

Responding to the allegation of dying threats given to Vinesh on his behalf, Brij Bhushan stated, “Why Vinesh did not talk to me or approached the police at that time? Why did she not meet the PM or the Sports Minister? Why is she saying this now?”

The WFI boss indicated that the brand new coverage and the foundations they’ve launched are maybe inflicting a little bit of discomfort to the wrestlers and that is why the protest. He stated the wrestlers are being requested to compete within the National Championships and seem in trials for honest choice, and there’s nothing incorrect with it.

“Different states host Nationals and all want the country’s best athletes to compete. None of these wrestlers has competed in the Nationals. We have made it clear that only those athletes who compete and win at the National Championship will be selected for the National camp.”

“The state of Haryana has been the pride of the country but we want to take wrestling to other states also. So we stopped the arrangements of states sending multiple teams at the Nationals,” Brij Bhushan stated.

“States like Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram are weak and we need to promote the game there. So we introduced National Open Championships apart from the regular Nationals and there also Haryana claimed 61 per cent of the medals,” he stated, including {that a} sure Tirath Rana was additionally deceptive the wrestlers.

Tirat Rana is a former wrestler who had tried to get into Haryana Wrestling Association however the sports activities physique was suspended by WFI and later a brand new affiliation, which had the backing of the nationwide federation, was fashioned.

Vinesh stated she is labelled an indisciplined athlete as a result of she dares to talk her thoughts.

“I am being tortured every day.”

Asked why they didn’t increase the problems earlier than, Vinesh stated, “These are powerful, influential people. We could not muster the courage. Now we were not left with any option. ‘Ab paani sar se paar ho raha hai’ (the limit has been reached). We have to think about the next generation of players as well.”

Adding to it, Bajrang stated, “We are approaching the end of our careers. For how long will we play? 2024, 2026 or maybe 2028 but it is a question of the entire wrestling fraternity.”

It could also be recalled that the WFI, whereas taking disciplinary motion in opposition to Vinesh for not carrying the official singlet through the Tokyo Games, had banned her however later lifted it after receiving a written apology from the athlete. Vinesh stated she didn’t put on that singlet as a result of it was “zero quality.”

Explaining his place, the WFI President stated that they have been going through motion from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for flouting the foundations and he needed to take motion in opposition to Vinesh out of compulsion as a result of he didn’t need a ban on India.

ALSO READ | WFI chief sexual harassment: DCW points discover to sports activities ministry, Delhi Police