The sports ministry sought a response from the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) “within the next 72 hours” after top wrestlers included Olympic athlete Vinesh Phogat, Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik were accused of serious misconduct by coach and president of the sports body Brij Bhushan. Sharan Singh. Vinesh Phogat, the first Indian female wrestler to win a gold medal in both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, said that “national coaches sexually abused female wrestlers for years and was threatened with death by WFI officials.” She joined other top Indian wrestlers in a mass rally at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Wednesday. The wrestlers have called for the removal of the WFI president.
In a statement, the center made it clear that if WFI does not respond within the next three days, the sport department “will proceed to initiate action against the federation under the provisions of the National Sports Development Code, 2011.”
“Aware of the protest organized by wrestlers, including Olympic and CWG medalists, in Delhi today and a press conference in which the wrestlers made serious allegations of conduct sexual harassment of female wrestlers by the President and coach of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and regarding the poor management of the federation’s operations, the Sports Ministry sought an explanation from the WFI and directing the organization to respond within the next 72 hours to the allegations made regarding the health of athletes, the Department has taken a very serious stance on this matter. .” The sport ministry said in a statement.
“The Department has further stated that if WFI does not provide an answer within the next 72 hours, the Department will proceed to initiate action against the federation under the provisions of the National Sports Development Code, 2011.”
Allegations of Vinesh, Bajrang
Rio Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik, world champion medalist Sarita Mor, Sangeeta Phogat, Anshu Malik, Sonam Malik, Satywart Malik, Jitender Kinha, Amit Dhankar and CWG Sumit medalist Malik was among 30 wrestlers who gathered at the popular protest site.
“It is better to die once than to die slowly day by day. We can’t sleep at night because we don’t know if we can participate in the competition or not. We can participate in the national camp or not. We suspect that the this trainer and their supporters can increase our food intake and we can be positive during the doping test,” Vinesh Phogat told NDTV.
“So we worry about all this. When President Brij Bhushan ji said he was innocent, I tell you we sent him a lot of letters but he never paid him back. reply to any letter. Now we have to go to his room for each and everything?”
Vinesh, world champion medalist and Olympic athlete, also claimed that some coaches at the national camp in Lucknow exploited female wrestlers, adding that some women Women at the camp approached the wrestlers on the orders of the WFI President.
“Some coaches are close to national federations. Those coaches have exploited young girls. I don’t know how many young girls have suffered because of them,” Vinesh said.
The 28-year-old woman, though clarified that she herself does not face such exploitation, claims that she has received death threats on the orders of the WFI president from pro-government officials. approached him because she dared to draw the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on some of the issues plaguing Indians. wrestling when she met him after the Tokyo Olympics.
“I know at least 10-20 female wrestlers who told me about the sexual exploitation they faced at the hands of (President) WFI. They told me their stories. Now I I can’t remember the name but I can definitely name it if we get to meet the Prime Minister and Interior Minister of the country,” Vinesh told the media after hosting a four-hour ‘dharna’ in Jantar. Mantar.
“I’ve received death threats from people close to the WFI President. If anything happens to any of us sitting here, only the WFI President should be held accountable.”
Sitting next to Vinesh, Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Bajrang Punia said the federation was being run arbitrarily and that they would not participate in any international competitions unless the WFI President was removed. office. “Our fight is not against the government or Sports Authority of India (SAI). This is a fight against WFI.”Yeh ab aar paar ki ladai hai’ (It was a fight to the end.) We will continue this protest until the WFI President is sacked,” Bajrang Punia told PTI news agency.
WFI rejects the claim
WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh responded to the allegations. “I came here as soon as I knew the wrestlers were protesting. Can anyone on file say that the Federation harassed us?” he said at a press conference. “If you have such problems with the federation, then why hasn’t anyone raised them for 10 years? Problems arise whenever rules are formed.”
“The allegations made by the wrestlers against me are untrue, I am ready to be hanged even if a sexual harassment case is proven,” WFI head Brij Bhushan added. “I will not resign as WFI President but I am open to the CBI or police investigation.”
“An industrialist is behind this plot against me. Why didn’t Vinesh approach the police if she received death threats,” he added.
Wrestling Camp Canceled
The department has also canceled an upcoming wrestling camp for female wrestlers. “Furthermore, the women’s national wrestling training camp, is scheduled to start at the National Center of Excellence of Sports Authority of India (NCOE) in Lucknow from January 18, 2023 with 41 wrestlers and 13 coaches and support staff, have been cancelled,” the statement stated.
“NCOE executive director Lucknow has been directed to provide all facilities to national campers who have reported and have the ability to report, until the campers leave the centre. Necessary information on the cancellation of the National Training Camp has also been sent to all campers.”
Yogeshwar Dutt, a bronze medalist at the 2012 London Olympics, has said allegations of sexual harassment need to be thoroughly investigated.
“There needs to be a proper investigation into the whole matter. As I can see that the top wrestlers of the country have gathered at Jantar Mantar, I think the whole matter should be investigated. I think victims should come forward and voice their views. speak up or there will be no appropriate conclusions,” Dutt told NDTV.
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