The Indian sports fraternity witnessed unprecedented scenes on Wednesday as some of the country’s top wrestlers including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik sat on a dharna at Jantar Mantar and accused Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) coaches of sexual harassment. and Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, president of the federation. Vinesh Phogat, the first Indian woman wrestler to win gold at both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, said that “women wrestlers have been molested by national coaches over the years and they have been threatened with death by WFI officials.” He along with other top Indian wrestlers led a massive protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Wednesday. Wrestlers have demanded the removal of the WFI president.
Later Bajrang Punia made an emotional appeal to the wrestling fraternity. “It is my request to all of you who are associated with wrestling – coaches, fellow wrestlers and others, this is a fight to save our sport. So, please stand with us. Our president (Brijbhushan Sharan Singh) is saying that only three 10% of wrestlers are leveling allegations while rest are with them. So we have to unite to protect our sport. We have to stand together and be united. It is very important to save wrestling because it has given us everything You are associated with wrestling so support us,” said Bajrang Punia in an Instagram post.
Vinesh, Bajrang’s allegation
Rio Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik, World Championship medalist Sarita Mor, Sangeeta Phogat, Anshu Malik, Sonam Malik, Satyawart Malik, Jitendra Kinha, Amit Dhankhar and CWG medalist Sumit Malik were among the 30 wrestlers who gathered at the famous protest site. Had happened
World championship medalist and Olympian Vinesh also claimed that women wrestlers have been exploited by several coaches at a national camp in Lucknow, adding that there are some women in the camp who approach wrestlers at the behest of the WFI president .
Vinesh said, “Some coaches are close to national federations. Those coaches have exploited young girls. Don’t know how many young girls have suffered because of them.”
The 28-year-old, however, clarified that he himself had not faced such abuse but claimed that he had received death threats from officials close to him at the behest of the WFI president as he tried to attract the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Had the courage wrestling when she met him after the Tokyo Games.
“I know at least 10-20 women wrestlers who have told me about the sexual abuse they faced at the hands of the WFI president. They told me their stories. I can’t name them right now, but I can definitely disclose Am.” Addressing the media after a four-hour dharna at Jantar Mantar, Vinesh said, “If we get a chance to meet the country’s prime minister and home minister, name them.”
“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.”
Centre’s response
The Sports Ministry has sought a response from the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) “within the next 72 hours” following the allegations. In a statement, the Center has made it clear that if the WFI does not respond in the next three days, the Sports Ministry will “initiate action against the federation in terms of the provisions of the National Sports Development Code, 2011”. ,
“Taking note of the protest and a press conference held by wrestlers, including Olympic and Commonwealth Games medalists, in Delhi today, in which wrestlers made serious allegations of sexual harassment of women wrestlers by the President and coaches of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) And the Sports Ministry has sought an explanation from the WFI regarding mismanagement in the functioning of the federation and has directed it to reply within the next 72 hours on the allegations leveled against it. In its letter to the WFI, the ministry has said that “since the matter Concerned with the welfare of the athletes, the Ministry has taken the matter very seriously,” the Sports Ministry said in the statement.
“The ministry has further stated that if the WFI fails to submit a reply within the next 72 hours, the ministry will initiate action against the federation as per the provisions of the National Sports Development Code, 2011.”
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Wrestlers vs Wrestling Federation accused of sexual harassment
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