Wrestlers vinesh phogat sakshi malik accuse wfi president of sexual harassment

Wrestlers vinesh phogat sakshi malik accuse wfi president of sexual harassment

Bajrang Punia and nearly a dozen wrestlers began their protest against Wrestling Federation of India at Jantar Mantar at 12 noon on Wednesday.

Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik on Wednesday accused Wrestling Federation of India (WEI) president Brij Bhushan Sharma of sexual harassment.

‘Women wrestlers have been sexually harassed at national camps by coaches and also the WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Sharma. Some of the coaches appointed at national camps have been sexually harassing women Wrestlers for years. The WFI president is also involved in sexual harassment,’ said Vinesh Phogat.

‘Many young women Wrestlers have complained to me and cried about being sexually harassed at national camps. At least 20 girls I know who have been sexually harassed at the national camp.’ ‘Today I have said this, I don't know if I will be alive tomorrow. People in WFI are very powerful.’

WFI president Brij Bhushan has responded about the allegations against him. He said: Is anyone saying that the WFI has sexually harassed a wrestler? Only Vinesh has said it. Has anyone come forward and said that they personally have been sexually harassed?’

‘Even if one wrestler comes forward and says that she has been sexually harassed that day I can be hanged.’

India's top wrestlers, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Sangeeta Phogat, Bajrang, Sonam Malik and Anshu, staged a protest at Jantar Mantar against the WFI's high-handed way of functioning.

‘Our protest is against the Federation and the way it has been functioning without keeping the best interests of wrestlers in mind. This has nothing to do with politics of any sort. We have not invited any politicians here. This is purely a protest of wrestlers,’ Bajrang told the Indian Express before he and nearly a dozen wrestlers began their protest at Jantar Mantar at 12 noon on Wednesday.

The Olympics medal winner also added, ‘We are here to raise the issue of wrestlers who have no voice when it comes to decision making. Wrestler have suffered for long silently but now we have decided that we won't stay quiet anymore against unilateral decisions being taken by the Wrestling Federation of India. All of India's top wrestlers won't participate in national or international meets till our demands are met and we are treated better by the Wrestling Federation of India. Wrestlers here have a request to the prime minister's office and the home minister's office to help us and help the sport.’

‘When we win medals for India everyone celebrates but after that nobody cares about how we are treated, especially by the federation. If we are promised by the PMO and the home minister's office that our issues will be addressed then we will stop our protest. Else we will continue protesting. Wrestlers can't be treated as ghulams of the Wrestling Federation of India.’

‘Today we will talk about the rot in the federation and the tanashahi which has been happening for many years. Nobody even asks about what wrestling want. This is not fair and we have been silently tolerating this. But not anymore,’ Bajrang told the Indian Express.

While Vinesh Phogat said, ‘I have been trying to talk to the federation and make them understand my issues and those of other wrestlers for nearly 10 years. But nobody is even ready to listen.’