By India Blooms News Service Jan 18, 2023
New Delhi/IBNS: Vinesh Phogat, the first Indian woman wrestler to win gold in both Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, on Wednesday made some serious allegations against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and its president Brijbhushan Sharan Singh.
Holding a massive protest at Delhis Jantar Mantar, Phogat alleged that national coaches molested female wrestlers over the years and were given death threats by WFI officials.
She was joined by some top athletes too in her protest. The wrestlers called for the removal of the WFI president from the post.
We will not compete in any international competition until WFI President is removed, said Bajrang Punia, Olympic bronze medallist wrestler.
Singh has been at the helm of the WFI since 2011. He was elected President of WFI for the third consecutive time in February 2019.
We were threatened that our careers will come to an end if we speak. Federation members used profanities against female wrestlers. We have approached the Prime Minister as well, Vinesh added.
Rio Olympics medallist Sakshi Malik, world championship medallist Sarita Mor, Sangeeta Phogat, Satyawart Malik, Jitender Kinha and CWG medallist Sumit Malik were among 30 wrestlers who came together at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday.
Vinesh, a world championship medallist and Olympian, also claimed that several coaches at the national camp in Lucknow have exploited women wrestlers adding that there are a few women at the camp who approach wrestlers at the behest of the WFI President.
Some coaches are close to the national federations. Those coaches have exploited young girls. Dont know how many young girls have suffered due to them, Vinesh stated.
The 28-year-old clarified that she herself has not faced such exploitation but claimed that she had received death threats at the behest of WFI President from officials close to him as she dared to draw Prime Minister Narendra Modis attention to several issues plaguing Indian wrestling when she met him after the Tokyo Games.
I know at least 10-12 women wrestlers who have told me about the sexual exploitation they faced at the hands of (the) WFI President. They told me their stories. I cant take their names now but I can definitely reveal the names if we get to meet the Prime Minister and the Home Minister of the country, Vinesh said addressing the media after staging a four-hour dharna at Jantar Mantar.