In an unprecedented move, the country’s top wrestlers on Wednesday staged a protest against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The underlyinge charge is that the federation is being run by Singh as per his whims and fancies.
Olympic Bronze medallist Bajrang Punia, leading the sudden sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar, told The Tribune: “The federation doesn’t make the players, it is our hard work that makes us champions.”
“We don’t need to butter the officials to get what we deserve. Anyways, I have said enough; we will talk about our grouse shortly at a press conference,” he added.
Those who sat in dharna included Rio Olympic Bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, World championships medallist Vinesh Phogat, upcoming star Anshu Malik and Asian medallist Sarita Mor.
Far more damning was the charges levelled by Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, accusing Sharan Singh of sexual harassment.
“Women wrestlers have been sexually harassed at national camps by coaches and also the WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Some of the coaches appointed at national camps have been sexually harassing women Wrestlers for years. The WFI president is also involved in sexual harassment,” Indian Express quotes Vinesh Phogat as saying.
“Many young women Wrestlers have complained to me and cried about being sexually harassed at national camps. At least 20 girls I know who have been sexually harassed at the national camp.”
“Today I have said this, I don’t know if I will be alive tomorrow. People in WFI are very powerful.”
WFI, in a bind because of this sudden revolt, said they were willing to discuss the matter.
“I came here to sort the matter but they have not given us any demands or any reason why they are sitting here,” WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar told The Tribune.
“Also, let me make this absolutely clear that the federation is only interested in India winning medals and we will listen to everything that they have to say. Having said that they have never given us a written set of demands,” he added.
