Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat accuses WFI chief of sexual misconduct

Protests have intensified in Indian after a top Indian athlete accused the main of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and other coaches associated with sexually harassing women wrestlers for years.

Vinesh Phogat has alleged that at least 10 girl wrestlers confessed with her that they were physically exploited by WFI president Brij Bhushan Singh.

She made the allegations during a protest held towards WFI in funds Delhi on Wed.

Mr Singh offers denied the accusations.

But Phogat and other women athletes said they would not contend in international tournaments unless Mr Singh was removed from the post.

They have also refused to call down their particular protest until the authorities addressed their problems. On Wednesday, India’s sports ministry sought a response to the accusations from WFI within three days.

One of the most decorated females wrestlers of Indian, Phogat has received medals at the Entire world Championships, Commonwealth Video games and Asian Video games.

The 28-year-old, exactly who belongs to a category of international female wrestlers, is also an expressive critic of the sexist attitudes towards women in sports : in 2021, the girl informed BBC Sports exactly how she faced sexist remarks growing up and changed gender stereotypes in order to forge a successful profession as a professional sportsman.

At the protest held at the Jantar Mantar heritage site upon Wednesday, Phogat alleged that some of the WFI coaches appointed from national training camps had been “sexually bothering women wrestlers pertaining to years”.

“They trouble us excessive, ” she said . “They get into our own personal lives plus relationships. ”

“Singh is also involved in sex-related harassment, ” the particular wrestler added. “I know at least 10-12 women wrestlers who may have told me about the sex exploitation they faced at the hands of the WFI president. ”

Phogat said she personally had not confronted any harassment, yet alleged receiving dying threats from authorities close to Mr Singh – a cost he denies.

Since Wednesday, a number of other wrestlers have voiced up against WFI plus Mr Singh.

Wrestler Bajrang Punia, which won bronze on the Tokyo Olympics plus was also present at the protest, accused the particular WFI president associated with running the struggling federation in an “arbitrary manner”.

“When we win medals for India everyone celebrates but after that nobody cares about how exactly we are treated, especially by the federation, inch he said.

Mister Singh, who is also an MP from your ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) within the northern Indian condition of Uttar Pradesh, said there is “no truth to the allegations” and refused in order to step down from his post.

“Is anyone saying that the WFI has physically harassed a wrestler? Only Vinesh reports it. Even if a single wrestler comes forwards and says that will she has been sexually harassed, that day time I can be hanged, ” he stated in a statement.

Meanwhile, India’s sports activities authority has terminated the women’s nationwide wrestling camp, that was due to be held this week, in wake of the protests.