Indian Wrestlers stage Protest against WFI on claims of Harassment
Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik accuse WFI President, Brij Bhushan Singh of sexual harassment. Wrestling community stages protest at Jantar Mantar demanding resignation of President.
2 hours ago
As a country where women's participation in sports is slowly beginning to get accepted and encouraged, it is essential that these women receive support and encouragement from the respective authorities. This is not the case currently in India as it is the people who are in authority, who are taking advantage of these women.
On Jan. 18th, 2023 wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik accused the President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Brij Bhushan Singh, of sexual harassment. Phogat whilst addressing the media stated that “the WFI president is also involved in sexual harassment.” and that at least 10 female wrestlers confessed to her that they had been sexually exploited by Singh.
The female wrestlers in India are currently protesting the WFI at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, and have refused to call off their protest if their concerns are not met by the respective authorities. Phogat alleged that the wrestling coaches that had been appointed by the WFI for the national training camps had been harassing female wrestlers for years now. One of their conditions for calling off the protest was the removal of Brij Bhushan Singh from the post of President of the WFI.
Singh was also on the list of accused as Phogat mentioned that multiple female wrestlers have confided in her about the sexual exploitation they faced at the hands of the WFI President. Phogat also alleged that she received death threats from those close to Singh, but he has denied all claims. Singh refused to step down from his post and proceeded to state that there was “no truth to the allegations.” He said that if any other wrestler, other than Phogat, came forward and claims that they had been sexually harassed he would take the blame, but until then he will not. Phogat mentioned how she has been hearing these stories ever since Singh took over as
This isn't the first time women in the sports industry have come forward, Mark Kom, who is undoubtedly one of India's finest female boxers, in her autobiography, spoke about the sexual harassment she faced from her coach when she was a teenager. Anju Bobby George, a former long jump athlete, revealed in an interview that she was forced to switch coaches due to harassment from senior officials in the Athletics Federation of India. Dutee Chund, a sprinter, also faced harassment and was discriminated against for her sexuality. She was India's first athlete to openly declare that she was in a same-sex relationship. She was briefly suspended due to her naturally high testosterone levels by the International Association of Athletics Federation, but that decision was eventually overturned.
President and she also estimated that at least 100 women would have been sexually exploited since, but the identities of the victims could not be revealed until they are ready to come forward themselves.
In an interview with BBC in 2021, Phogat spoke about the sexism women face in the sports industry in India and how she also faced sexist remarks from people around her, but she persevered and overcame the stereotypes that followed her. She aims to ensure that the future generation of athletes doesn't go through what she and her fellow athletes had to go through and that she will fight to save women and their freedom to wrestle. She said “They can’t fight against them because they are not powerful. I can do it because I don’t mind if they stop me from wrestling. I have a house, I have food. I am here because I don’t want future generations to go through this sadness and pain. We have only wrestling as our livelihood.” Many victims are choosing to remain silent as they come from underprivileged backgrounds and may not be able to fight and face the subsequent repercussions. “We have just come to save them. We are fighting for them. When the time comes, we will speak up. We will give the names of those who have been exploited to whoever is doing the probe.” said Malik, as she spoke on the dais during the protests.
Photo Credits: Getty Images
Photo Credits: Getty Images
A 2020 report by The Indian Express showcased how there have been 45 sexual harassment complaints registered at the Sports Authority of India between 2010 and 2020 and 29 of them were against the coaches. The registered cases are only a minute percentage of the cases, many choose to stay silent as they do not have the means to face the repercussions they may face. The sports industry is very difficult to break through, and with the vast talent that India's youth possess, each individual is aware of their chances of being replaced without a second thought.
Due to the protests, the Indian Sports authority canceled the Women's National Wrestling Camp which was due to be held the same week that the protests took place. Various wrestlers have also pulled out of the Zagreb Open, a tournament held for professional female tennis players, stating that they weren't feeling 100% fit post protests. Top wrestlers such as Phogat and Sakshi Malik have also refused to take part in any national or international wrestling event till the WFI is disbanded and Singh is sacked from his post. The three-day protest ended when the Sports Ministry ordered an investigation into the allegations and asked Singh to step down, but he has decided to only step aside until the probe is completed.