November 22, 2024 07:52 (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
PM Modi bestowed Dominica's highest award at India-CARICOM Summit | 69-year-old Delhi man, a St. Stephen's alumnus, arrested for conning govt officers by posing as ex-IPS | 'Baseless': Adani Group denies US charges of bribery and fraud against Gautam Adani | AAP's first list of candidates for Delhi polls feature six turncoats | PM Modi is incapable to arrest Gautam Adani: Rahul Gandhi after tycoon charged with bribery and fraud in the US
WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh calls sports minister Anurag Thakur to clarify wrestlers' allegations
Wrestling protests
Image Credit: tweeted by @BajrangPunia

WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh calls sports minister Anurag Thakur to clarify wrestlers' allegations

| @indiablooms | 19 Jan 2023, 03:43 pm

New Delhi/IBNS: President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh called Sports Minister Anurag Thakur to explain himself over the allegations of sexual misconduct by wrestlers, media reports said.

On Wednesday, India’s top wrestlers staged an unprecedented protest against the federation's president and officials accusing them of sexually exploiting female wrestlers.

Wrestlers like Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang Punia, world championship medalist Vinesh Phogat, Rio Olympics medalist Sakshi Malik, world championship medallist Sarita Mor, Sangeeta Phogat, Satyawart Malik, Jitender Kinha, and CWG medallist Sumit Malik were also present at Jantar Mantar, media reported.

Earlier, Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia accused WFI of harassing wrestlers and even hitting and abusing them.

Punia made it clear that their fight is against the WFI and not against SAI or the government.

'Yeh ab aar paar ki ladai hai' (It's a fight to the finish),” he said.

Bajrang Punia told the media WFI is being run by people who know nothing about the sport.

Bajrang's support staff, including his coach Sujeet Mann and physio Anand Dubey, also joined the protest.

Alleging that sexual exploitation and abuse have been going on for years, India’s star wrestler Vinesh Phogat, "I spoke out against it. Brij Bhushan Saharan Singh was sexually harassing the female wrestlers. No one takes responsibility for injuries. They talk of banning wrestlers from nationals. The WFI president called me khota sikka (useless). I wanted to commit suicide.”

Earlier, Brij Bhushan had hit out at the wrestlers accusing them of conspiring against him.

“This is a conspiracy against me, a big industrialist has a hand in it. When Vinesh Phogat lost, it was me who motivated her. Sexual harassment never happened. If even one athlete comes forward and proves this, I will hang myself,” he was quoted as saying by India Today.

The wrestlers began their protest at the Jantar Mantar on Wednesday and said they would continue until their demands are met.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.