NEW DELHI: Wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Sunday disclosed that she is one of the six female wrestlers who had accused former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment. The announcement comes just days before her return at a ranking tournament in Brij Bhushan's stronghold Gonda, marking her first appearance in nearly 20 months after coming out of retirement in December last year.
Vinesh's Revelation
Vinesh, a two-time World Championships medallist and three-time Olympian, had earlier not publicly identified herself, citing ongoing legal proceedings. In a 4-minute, 22-second Instagram video, she said that certain circumstances compelled her to speak out despite the matter being sub judice. She stated that the Supreme Court guidelines say the identity of any victim should not be revealed, but due to certain circumstances, she wanted to tell everyone that she herself is one of those six victims who filed a complaint, and their testimonies are still ongoing.
Concerns Over Tournament Fairness
Vinesh has raised serious concerns about the upcoming competition's fairness and venue, alleging that it is being held in Brij Bhushan's bastion and at an institution linked to him. She said that for a woman, competing in such a situation is very difficult, as he has his own private college and the competition is being organised there. She added that it is almost impossible that every hardworking athlete will get their due.
WFI president Sanjay Singh said the venue for the National Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda would not be changed and offered a personal guarantee for her safety. Vinesh, who is now also a legislator having won the Julana seat in Haryana on a Congress ticket in 2024, urged transparency about the venue. She warned that if any untoward incident happens to her, her team, or supporters, the Indian government will be responsible.
She alleged that officiating and scoring could be influenced by those loyal to Singh. She said that who will referee whose match and how many points a referee will give will all be controlled by Brij Bhushan and his people, and the government and sports ministry are watching as silent spectators.
Sanjay Singh told PTI that if Vinesh is worried about her safety, he takes personal guarantee of that. He added that there are UWW-approved referees who officiate and all trial bouts are recorded, so there is no chance of any bias. He also said that this is an open tournament which is not mandatory, and the choice is hers to compete. He reiterated that the venue will not be changed.
Background of the Case
Vinesh was a central figure in the 2023 protests at Jantar Mantar, where the country's top female wrestlers accused Brij Bhushan of intimidation and sexual harassment and demanded accountability from WFI. The case against Brij Bhushan, who has denied all allegations, continues in court with victim testimonies still being recorded. When contacted, Singh declined to comment, stating that the matter is under judicial consideration.
Her comeback tournament, the National Open Ranking scheduled from May 10 to 12 in Gonda, is part of the Senior Open ranking series and will see her compete in the 57kg category. The event serves as a pathway for wrestlers aiming to enter the national camp and stake a claim in the Asian Games trials.
