PremiumVinesh Phogat along with other wrestlers sit on a silent protest at Jantar Mantar for the second day against WFI chief on Thursday. She also urged the Prime Minister and Home Minister to intervene into the matter.
Triple Commonwealth Games gold medalist Vinesh Phogat has accused her federation chief and several other coaches of sexually harassing multiple athletes. She said that Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, president of the Wrestling Federation of India and other trainers were culpable.
Phogat along with other wrestlers sit on a silent protest at Jantar Mantar for the second day against WFI chief on Thursday. She also urged the Prime Minister and Home Minister to intervene into the matter.
"Women wrestlers have been sexually harassed at national camps by coaches and also the WFI president," she said as quoted by news agency AFP.
Champion wrestler and BJP leader Babita Phogat also arrived at the protest site on Thursday. “Babita Phogat has come from the government's side for mediation. We will speak with her and then give more details," said Olympian wrestler Bajrang Punia.
The allegations come months after the coach of the country's national cycling team was sacked following sexual harassment charges.
Here are top updates in the case
1) Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshee Malikkh, Bajrang Punia and other wrestlers sit on a silent protest at Jantar Mantar for the second day against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and its chief BrijBhushan Sharan Singh against whom sexual harassment allegations were made, ANI reported.
2) A wrestling coach at Delhi's Chhatrasal Stadium, Praveen Dahiya responded to the allegations and said that sexual harassment allegations made by Vinesh (Phogat) are serious as no one says such things without a reason. “Wrestlers want that the truth should come out after a fair probe."
3) Vinesh Phogat claimed that she knows at least 10-20 girls in the national camp who have come and told her their stories.
4) "Wrestling is our only livelihood and they are not letting us do it. Our only option is to die. So might as well do good before dying," she added as quoted by AFP.
5) Her fellow wrestler and Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, who was also part of the protest, endorsed the allegations. “Athletes work hard to win medals for the country, but the federation has done nothing but let us down," she said in a tweet post.
6) However, the WFI chief denied the allegations and said he was "ready to be hanged" if even a single woman wrestler proved the sexual harassment charge.
7) According to reports, the Sports Ministry of India has asked the federation to respond to the allegations within 72 hours.
8) Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia, who is male and also joined the protest, accused Singh of running the federation in a high-handed manner. "The job of the federation is to support the players, take care of their sporting needs. If there is a problem, it has to be solved," he tweeted.
9) Babita Phogat who also reached the protest site said, “I have assured them that the government is with them. I will try that their issues are resolved today."
10) Vinesh Phogat, during the protest, also stated the new wrestling federation made in Haryana has people similar to Brijbhushan Sharan Singh (WFI President).
(With inputs from agencies)