NEW DELHI: Indian sports on Wednesday was rocked by major allegations of unwanted sexual advances and intimidation by the countrys leading ladies wrestlers, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, who collectively implicated BJP MP and battling federation (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually making use of several females grapplers at nationwide camps for years.Vinesh, a double World Championships medallist and a three-time CWG gold winner, also implicated Singh of indirectly issuing death hazards to her through some influential WFI office-bearers after she satisfied PM Narendra Modi personally along with her family in October 2021 on her return from Tokyo Olympics and talked about the difficulties faced by the Indian wrestlers rising up the ranks, WFIs illogical choice policies and the federations high-handedness faced by a few of the leading wrestlers.Vinesh and Rio Olympics bronze winner Sakshi, flanked by Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia, staged a four-hour-long sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar here, demanding action against Singh and other WFI office-bearers of being complicit in his wrongdoings.
They likewise blamed some nationwide coaches, implicating them and Singh of sexually harassing wrestlers at the Sports Authority of India-run (SAI) Netaji Subhas regional centre in Lucknow, where the nationwide camps for females wrestlers are organised.
Several ladies wrestlers have been sexually made use of by Singh for many years.
Some female wrestlers who are sitting here with me at the demonstration website are victims of unwanted sexual advances by him.
I wont be taking names but a minimum of 20 women I understand have been sexually harassed at the camp.
I have never ever personally faced such exploitation however have heard numerous stories about his misbehaviours.
Why does he always hold the nationwide camp in Lucknow? Its because his home remains in Lucknow and its practical for him to enjoy such acts.
He is a big-time politician, a strongman who wields a great deal of money and muscle power.
Nobody attempts speak versus him because everyone understands what he can do with our lives.
However today, we decided to break our silence and expose him in front of the whole world because we have actually had enough of this man, a weeping Vinesh told a jam-packed press conference.Singh is a five-time MP from Kaiserganj in UP.
The opposing wrestlers included other leading India wrestlers consisting of World champions medallists, Anshu Malik and Sarita Mor, Sonam Malik, Sumit Malik, Satyawart Kadian, Amit Dhankar, Jitender Kinha and Bajrangs coach Sujeet Maan among others.
The wrestlers plan to continue their protest braving Delhis chill till the time Singh is gotten rid of from his post.
The wrestlers said they wont participate in any national or international tournaments or sign up with the camp till their demands are met.
Several coaches have actually been sexually exploiting female wrestlers at the camps.
A few of them are senior coaches.
They have been designated by Singh particularly to watch on such wrestlers so that he can exploit them.
These coaches hand down every little info-- who these female trainees are speaking with, strolling around with or gossiping.
They resemble his ears at the camps and themselves indulge in unsuitable behaviour.
When Bajrang had chosen to marry Sangeeta Phogat, the WFI president had dissuaded him.
He has this practice of interfering in every female wrestlers life, Vinesh alleged.Wrestlers, consisting of Olympians Bajrang Punia - & Sakshi Malik, demonstration versus Wrestling Federation of India at Jantar Mantar If tomorrow something occurs to me or to my fellow wrestlers sitting here, then Singh ought to be held responsible for it.
The people in WFI are really effective.
When I failed to win a medal in Tokyo, WFI had actually branded me a traitor.
Singh called me a khota sikka.
All we want is his removal from the post and a visit with honourable PM Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah to inform them about WFIs dark side.
I cant reveal the names (of wrestlers being sexually exploited by Singh) here however can inform them.
We will also show them the videos of him physically abusing the male wrestlers throughout championships and tossing curs at them, she added.Four-time World Championships medallist, Bajrang, included: We wish to inform the world about the WFIs tanashahi (dictatorship).
They treat us like their servants.
We are here to safeguard the interests of young wrestlers.
We may not be around for long, perhaps 2024 Paris or 2026 or 2028 Los Angeles.
What about the more youthful generation of wrestlers? Singh treats them with contempt, uses nasty language or slaps any wrestler like he did throughout an age-group nationwide competition in Ranchi (in December 2021).
Singh has been at the WFIs helm since 2011.
He was re-elected to the presidents post for the 3rd time in February 2019.
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