The sports ministry has sought a response from the Wrestling Federation of
India (WFI) “within the next 72 hours” after top wrestlers including
Olympian Vinesh Phogat, Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik
alleged gross misconduct by the sports body’s coaches and president Brij
Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Vinesh Phogat, the first Indian woman wrestler to win gold in both the
Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, said that “national coaches
molested female wrestlers over the years and were given death threats by
WFI officials.” She along with other top Indian wrestlers sat a massive
protest at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Wednesday. The wrestlers have
called for the removal of the WFI president from the post.The centre, in a statement, has made it clear that if the WFI does not
respond in the next three days, the sports ministry “will proceed to
initiate action against the federation in terms of the provisions of the
National Sports Development Code, 2011.”A protest staged by wrestlers,
including Olympic and CWG medalists, in Delhi , wrestlers have levelled
serious charges of sexual harassment of women wrestlers by the President
and coaches of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
India (WFI) “within the next 72 hours” after top wrestlers including
Olympian Vinesh Phogat, Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik
alleged gross misconduct by the sports body’s coaches and president Brij
Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Vinesh Phogat, the first Indian woman wrestler to win gold in both the
Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, said that “national coaches
molested female wrestlers over the years and were given death threats by
WFI officials.” She along with other top Indian wrestlers sat a massive
protest at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Wednesday. The wrestlers have
called for the removal of the WFI president from the post.The centre, in a statement, has made it clear that if the WFI does not
respond in the next three days, the sports ministry “will proceed to
initiate action against the federation in terms of the provisions of the
National Sports Development Code, 2011.”A protest staged by wrestlers,
including Olympic and CWG medalists, in Delhi , wrestlers have levelled
serious charges of sexual harassment of women wrestlers by the President
and coaches of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
The Sports Ministry has sought an explanation from WFI and directed it to
furnish a reply within the next 72 hours on the allegations made. In its
communication to WFI, the Ministry has stated that “since the matter
pertains to the well being of athletes, the Ministry has taken a very
serious view of the matter.” the sports ministry said in the statement.
