Indian Wrestlers Vinesh, Bajrang and Sakshi Resume Protest Against Wrestling Federation of India
Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia have resumed their protest against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The protest comes after a similar one was staged in January where the wrestlers accused Federation officials and coaches of financial impropriety, unsympathetic planning, mental harassment, and accused the president and national camp coaches of sexual exploitation of female athletes dating back a decade.
Delhi Commission for Women seeks FIR against WFI president
The Delhi Commission for Women has written to the Delhi Commissioner of Police seeking for an FIR to be filed against Brij Bhushan Singh, president of the WFI, on Sunday. The letter stated that “several women wrestlers, including a minor, have alleged that the accused person has indulged in the crime of sexual harassment against them during his tenure at the Wrestling Federation of India.”
Vinesh Phogat, the first Indian woman wrestler to win a gold medal in both the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games, expressed her frustration on the Federation’s operation. The wrestlers are protesting against the WFI for their failure to keep the best interests of the wrestlers in mind. The job of the federation is to support the players and take care of their sporting needs, but instead, it has created problems, and now they have to fight.
Bajrang clarifies the protest is purely by wrestlers
Bajrang Punia, who won the gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, clarified that the protest “purely a protest of wrestlers,” and politicians had nothing to do with it. The wrestlers’ protest is against the federation and the way it has been functioning without keeping the best interests of wrestlers in mind. He further tweeted, “If there is a problem, it has to be solved. But what if the federation itself creates the problem? Now we have to fight, we will not back down.”
This is not the first time that the WFI has been accused of sexual harassment. In 2019, an FIR was registered against Vinod Tomar, the then WFI secretary, for allegedly sexually harassing a junior wrestler. In 2020, two-time Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar was also arrested on charges of murder and his involvement in a brawl at the Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi.
Wrestlers demand action against the WFI
The wrestlers have demanded action against the WFI and for the government to intervene in the matter. They have also demanded the formation of an independent commission to investigate the allegations of sexual harassment and other misconduct within the federation. The wrestlers’ protest has garnered support from various quarters, including politicians and sports personalities, who have urged the government to take swift action to address the issue.
The wrestlers’ protest against the WFI has raised serious concerns about the lack of accountability and transparency in sports federations in India. The government needs to take strict action against those found guilty of sexual harassment and other forms of misconduct and ensure the safety and well-being of athletes. The formation of an independent commission to investigate such allegations would be a significant step towards ensuring a safe and fair environment for athletes in India.
