‘If we release the names of the victims…’: Vinesh Phogat on MeToo’s allegations against the head of the wrestling body

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Commonwealth gold medalist Vinesh Phogat said Friday that releasing the names of the victims would put them at risk and said it was one of the reasons he has yet to file an FIR. “If we release the names of the victims, it would put them, including their families, at risk. We cannot release their identities because nothing has been put on paper and it has not yet been made official. We have come here to fight for our dignity and if it is taken away from us, what’s the point of protesting? We cannot share all the intricate details as this is a sensitive issue involving the self respect of female wrestlers. We will share all the details with you once everything is secured for us,” Phogat said while speaking to the media on Friday.

“We are presenting all the issues. If it had only been about wrestling, the issue would have been resolved after discussion. But it is a big issue. It is not about one but several girls We cannot release their identities, and if we did, it would be a threat to their lives and families,” the wrestler added.

The Asian Games gold medalist also mentioned that Union Minister Anurag Thakur assured to hold another round of talks with them and look into the wrestlers’ demands.

“The Minister of Sports has again given us time to present our demands and discuss them. We want concrete assurances on each of our demands. If we had had them, we would not have had so many meetings. We raised our issues, and the Union Sports Minister gave us time to meet at 6:00 p.m.,” Laureate Arjuna said.

Speaking about the aftermath of her performance at the Tokyo Olympics, Phogat said she asked WFI President Brij Bhushan Saran Singh to meet her after she returned from the Olympics, but he declined her request. .

“He hasn’t met me since I returned from the Tokyo Olympics. Several players have written to the federation about the harassment they have faced, but there has been no response. If we return our public problem, the head of the WFI will try to sweep it off the rug using his influence,” the grappler alleged.

Olympian wrestler and 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medalist Bajrang Punia has also claimed the WFI president may flee the country.

“His office is 500 meters from Jantar Mantar, why did he flee to Gonda? If he can flee from here, he might also flee the country,” Punia said.

Several ace wrestlers in the country including Sakshee Malikkh, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Ravi Dahiya are staging a protest sit-in at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

Their protest began on Wednesday, with wrestlers alleging female wrestlers were sexually harassed by the WFI chief and their coaches. They also demanded a complete overhaul of the federation.

WFI Chairman Brij Bhushan Saran Singh refuted the allegations and said he would expose the ‘political plot’ at a press conference in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh today.

On Thursday, a group of wrestlers had a meeting with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur which lasted until early this morning.

However, sources say the meeting remained inconclusive and the minister is expected to meet grapplers again today at his residence.

Meanwhile, Vinesh, Bajrang, Sakshee, Ravi and Deepak wrote to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha on Friday over the ‘sexual harassment’ complaints against WFI President Brij Bhushan. Saran Singh.

In a letter to the IOA President, the star wrestlers accused the WFI President of sexual exploitation and financial irregularities.

(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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