Wrestling Federation of India chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh on Wednesday firmly denied sexual harassment claims levelled by the nation’s high wrestlers, declaring ‘if such a factor has occurred, then I’ll hold myself’.
“There was no incident of sexual harassment…” he was quoted by information company ANI after gold medal winner Vinesh Phogat claimed sexual harassment by him and coaches, and in addition claimed that she and others confronted loss of life threats.
READ | Why are wrestlers, together with Olympic medalists, protesting?
“Is there any particular person in entrance who can say that the Federation harassed any athlete… Did they haven’t any issues with the Federation for the previous ten years? Points emerge when new guidelines and laws are introduced in…” Singh mentioned.
“Sexual harassment is an enormous allegation. How can I take motion when my very own title has been dragged into this? I’m prepared for an investigation,” he added.
The WFI chief then launched a counter-attack, declaring, “I wish to ask Vinesh Phogat… why did she put on a dressing up with an organization’s emblem on it within the Olympics? After she misplaced the match, I solely inspired and motivated her.”
What the wrestlers mentioned
Earlier Phogat – who received gold at three successive Commonwealth Video games, the 2018 Asian Video games and the 2021 Asian Championships – was quoted by information company PTI as saying girls wrestlers had been ‘sexually harassed’.
“Among the coaches appointed at nationwide camps have been sexually harassing girls wrestlers for years. WFI president can be concerned in sexual harassment. Many younger girls wrestlers cried…” she was quoted by the Indian Categorical.
READ | Wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat protest WFI’s ‘dictatorship’
Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Phogat had been amongst those that protested at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar earlier, alleging ‘harassment of wrestlers’ by the WFI.
Phogat instructed reporters: “We are going to current all proof when the excessive courtroom will direct us. We’re additionally able to submit all proof to the PM.”
Punia, a gold medallist ultimately 12 months’s Commonwealth Video games, instructed reporters, “The women listed below are from respectable households. If our sisters and daughters aren’t secure right here then we can not settle for it. We demand that the federation be modified.”
Malik – who claimed a bronze within the 58kg class on the 2016 Olympics, turning into the primary Indian girl wrestler to assert an Olympic medal – referred to as for your entire federation to be ‘eliminated… so future of latest wrestlers is secure’.
“Grime has unfold from the decrease degree. We’ll communicate to PM (Narendra Modi) and HM (union house minister Amit Shah) and reveal particulars,” she mentioned.
Wrestlers’ Wednesday protest
Earlier at present Phogat tweeted a photograph of the wrestlers seated collectively on a big sheet and holding the nationwide flag. “… gamers need self-respect (to) put together for Olympics and large video games with full vigour but when the federation doesn’t assist… morale breaks down. We won’t bow down… will battle for our rights.”
WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar instructed ANI the wrestlers hadn’t taken the WFI into confidence. “They have not but instructed me what their grouse is. No concern has been raised…”
Punia hit out on the WFI’s ‘ongoing dictatorship’. “Our battle shouldn’t be towards authorities or SAI. That is towards WFI,” he mentioned, “Yeh ab aar paar ki ladai hai‘ (It is a battle to the end).”
“Gamers make each effort to win medals for the nation however the federation has not carried out something besides downgrading us. Arbitrary guidelines are being framed to torture athletes,” Sakshi Malik mentioned.
Anshu Malik, Sangeeta Phogat and others tweeted on comparable strains, with the hashtag BoycottWFIPresident and tagging prime minister Narendra Modi and his workplace, in addition to union house minister Amit Shah.
Singh – a Bharatiya Janata Occasion MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Kaiserganj – has led the WFI since 2011; he was elected to a the third consecutive time in 2019.