Top wrestlers of the country, including Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Bajrang Punia and World Championship medalist Vinesh Phogat, on Wednesday accused National Federation President Brij Bhushan Singh of ‘dictatorship’ and protested against him at Jantar Mantar. Vinesh Phogat accused the President of Wrestling Federation of India of sexually harassing women wrestlers. She also said about the coaches backed by Brij Bhushan are also involved sexual harrasment. She raised her voice but nothing happened. Brij Bhushan Singh also sexually harasses female wrestlers. The wrestlers said that they will fight this battle till the end and will not keep quiet till Brij Bhushan is removed from the post.
The wrestlers said that they are opposing some policies of the Wrestler Federation of India. Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat addressed the press conference. Bajrang Punia has accused the President of Wrestling Federation of abusing him. They said, “We have come here to play. They are specifically targeting the sportsperson and the state.” Vinesh Phogat said that no one takes responsibility for getting injured. They talk about not playing nationals. Vinesh cried and said that the President called her a fake coin. Federation mentally tortured her. She was thinking of committing suicide after this.
The wrestlers said, “We all wrestlers have come here today. What is being done to us, they will not allow it to continue. The mental harassment that is being done will not be allowed to happen.” Bajrang Punia said that we are being mentally tortured by the federation. The rules are made by the Federation a day in advance. The President is playing all the roles. The President abuses us. The players were slapped.
After the displeasure of the wrestlers, it has become clear that the wrestling players are fed up with the way Brij Bhushan Singh is running the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Brij Bhushan Singh is also BJP MP from Kaiserganj seat of UP.
Athletes gathered at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar include Bajrang Punia, Vinesh, Rio Olympics medalist Sakshi Malik, World Championship medalists Sarita Mor, Sangeeta Phogat, Satyawart Malik, Jitendra Kinha and Commonwealth Games medalist Sumit Malik, among 30 wrestlers Are included.
Bajrang Punia says, “Wrestlers do not want to tolerate this dictatorship. We want that there should be a change in the management of the Wrestling Federation of India. We hope that the Prime Minister and the Home Minister will support us.”
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat said, “After the defeat in the Tokyo Olympics, the WFI president called me a ‘false coin’. WFI tortured me mentally. I used to think about ending my life every day. If anything happens to a wrestler, the responsibility will be on the WFI President.”