Top Wretlers Accuses Coaches of Sexual Harassment, To Protest

Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia are protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), at Jantar Mantar.

Top wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia participated in a two-day sit-in protest against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and its president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Thursday.

Vinesh, one of India’s most accomplished female wrestlers and a three-time gold medalist at the Commonwealth Games, has accused her federation’s president and several instructors of harassing numerous competitors with sexual advances. 

At a public demonstration on Wednesday, Vinesh stated the accusations with the support of numerous other elite wrestlers, both male and female.

Babita Phogat, a BJP politician and champion wrestler, also showed up at the protest site with a statement from the administration, according to Punia.

“Babita Phogat, a representative of the government, is here to mediate. Punia told the media on Thursday, “We will communicate with her and then provide further facts.

Phogat claimed that she had reassured the wrestlers of the support of the government. “I’ve told them the government is on their side. I’ll attempt to find a solution for them today,” Phogat added.

Bajrang Punia said, “If we can fight for our country, then we can fight for our rights.”

According to Vinesh Phogat, trainers and Brij Bhushan, who is also an MP for the Bharatiya Janata Party, were at fault.

After she lost the Tokyo Olympics 2020, Vinesh accused Brij Bhushan of calling her a “khota sikka” and abusing girls in a sexual manner.

Vinesh stated, “Coaches are harassing women and some coaches, who are favorites of the Federation, mistreat women coaches as well,” outside of a sit-in protest against the WFI. They harass girls sexually. Numerous girls have been sexually harassed by the WFI president.

The protesting wrestlers also charged the WFI with exploiting them and meddling in their private affairs. 

“We did not have a coach or a physiotherapist when we competed at the Olympics. We were threatened once we started shouting, “a wrestler ANI news agency stated.

However, Brij Bhushan refuted the claims and threatened to hang himself if they were true. 

No instances of sexual harassment have occurred. I’ll hang myself if it has happened, the president declared at a press conference.