Wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and its former president Brij Bhushan Charan Singh ahead of her much-awaited return to action after 18 months.
In a video posted on social media, the 31-year-old revealed that she is one of the six female wrestlers who filed sexual harassment complaints against Singh while highlighting her discomfort competing in the upcoming National Open Rankings tournament.
The event will be held from May 10 to 12 at Nandini Nagar Mahavidyalaya in Gonda in Singh’s home state of Uttar Pradesh.
Phogat, along with wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, was the face of the 36-day protest sit-in in April-May 2023 against Singh at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The protest led to a major change in the WFI as its management was handed over to an ad hoc committee before fresh elections were held to keep Singh out of the country.
Singh, a six-time Lok Sabha MP, is facing charges in a Delhi court over complaints filed by six adult wrestlers. Another, a minor, withdrew her complaint. In May last year, the Delhi court accepted the Delhi Police’s report of quashing and closed the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses) case filed by the minor.
Fugate, a two-time world championship medalist, said: “The Supreme Court guidelines are that the identity of any victim should not be revealed, because it is a matter of their dignity and honour. But today, due to certain circumstances, I want to tell you something. I did not want to speak while the case is still pending, but I want to say that I am one of the six victims who filed a complaint, and our testimony is still ongoing.”
The three-time Olympian expressed serious concerns about competing in Gonda, citing safety and the pressure on her.
“Imagine if I went to his house and to his college (to participate) where everyone would be related to him. Everyone would represent him… I don’t think I would be able to give 100% there. It is very difficult for a girl to compete in such a situation,” she said.
“Every athlete can relate to this situation. Even today, Brij Bhushan says he is running the wrestling federation. He says this in front of the entire country. But the sports ministry or the government is not taking any action,” Phogat said.
Fugate urged the sporting community and the media to be present at the tournament. “To all the sports fans and media professionals who have been covering sports for years, and for whom sports is still alive in India, I want you all to be there,” she said.
The tournament will mark Phogat’s return to the mat after the 2024 Paris Olympics where she was disqualified on the day of the final due to being 100 grams overweight. Since then, she has become a mother and was elected MLA in the Haryana Assembly.
Wrestling Federation president Sanjay Singh assured Phogat’s safety while ruling out a change of venue.
It is learned that Brij Bhushan is far from Gonda. When his family members were contacted, they declined to comment on Fugate’s statement.
