Women wrestlers who have accused the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president of sexual harassment were called for talks by the Sports Ministry on Thursday. Wrestlers like Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat, who won medals in competitions like Olympic and Commonwealth, said that WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh sexually exploits the players. Federation coaches have also been doing this for years.
1. Bajrang Punia: We play for the country, we fight for it. This fight that is going on is a fight for our honour.
2. WFI Chief: If even a single allegation turns out to be true, hang him. Performing sportspersons cannot win Olympic medals. They are angry, that's why they are protesting.
3. BJP leader Babita Phogat: Where there is fire, smoke comes out from there. I will try to solve the complaint of these people today itself.
Sakshi Malik (far left), Vinesh Phogat (centre) and Bajrang Punia during a protest at Jantar Mantar. Vinesh became emotional while talking.
Today's big updates...
Sakshi and Vinesh begin the silence fast. Bajrang Punia said that top wrestlers will not play any tournament until the problem is resolved.
Mahavir Phogat said - The fight against the president has nothing to do with the Sangh or the government.
Priyanka Gandhi tweeted and said – The voices of these players should be heard.
Champion wrestler and BJP leader Babita Phogat said - the matter will be resolved today with the government and wrestlers.
Wrestlers protest at Jantar Mantar
This photo is of Wednesday's protest. These include Anshu Malik (first from left), Satyavrat Kadyan Sakshi Malik's husband (behind Anshu), Amit Dhankhar (face down holding the flag), Vinesh Phogat (white hoodie) in front of Dhankhar, Sonam Malik (white hoodie) in front of Vinesh ), Sakshi Malik to the right of Vinesh, Sujit Mann (coach of Bajrang, holding the flag) behind Sakshi, Sarita Maurya (in pink hoodie) in front of Sakshi, Jeetender next to Sujit Mann behind the flag, Sumit (in black hoodie) , Bajrang Punia (front right holding the flag with one hand), his wife Sangeeta Phogat next to Bajrang.
What allegations did the players make during the dharna, read in sequence…
Vinesh Phogat (3 Gold in 3 consecutive Commonwealth Games)
Allegations - Sexual harassment and threats to kill
Vinesh Phogat had said in the dharna on Wednesday – Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, President of Women Wrestlers and coaches sexually harass in National Camps. Some coaches posted in national camps have been sexually harassing women wrestlers for years. Many female wrestlers also complained about this.
Vinesh further said that, after the defeat in the Tokyo Olympics, the WFI president called me a 'false coin'. mentally tortured. I used to think about ending my life every day. If anything happens to any wrestler then the responsibility will be on the WFI president.
Vinesh did not stop here. He said- Coaches are harassing women. Our position is that even if water is consumed without permission, the Federation gets angry. We are being threatened with death. If anything happens to us, the president will be responsible for that. We are sitting here on dharna putting our career at stake.
Vinesh further told that the Federation forcefully bans the players so that the players cannot play. I have been trying to talk to the Federation for almost 10 years and explain our issues, but no one is ready to listen.
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