| 10 June 2023
Wrestler Sakshi Malik and her fellow protesting wrestlers, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, have declared that they will only participate in the Asian Games once their issues with the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president, Brij Bhushan Singh, are resolved. The wrestlers have been protesting against Singh, and if no action is taken by June 15, they have vowed to escalate their protest.
Malik expressed the mental toll the situation has taken on them, stating, "We will participate in Asian Games only when all these issues will be resolved. You can't understand what we're going through mentally each day." These remarks were made in Hindi during a conversation with reporters on Saturday, as quoted by news agency ANI. Bajrang Punia also spoke about the upcoming action, emphasizing that if the required measures are not taken by June 15, they will call for a more significant protest.
During a meeting between the wrestlers and Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday, assurances were given that the police would file a chargesheet against Brij Bhushan Singh regarding the sexual harassment case by June 15. Thakur also informed the wrestlers that the WFI elections would be held by June 30. As a result, the wrestlers have agreed to suspend their protests until June 15, based on these promises.
Regarding the ongoing sexual harassment case, the Delhi Police took wrestler Sangeeta Phogat to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's official residence on Friday to recreate the sequence of events that led to the allegations against him. However, wrestler Vinesh Phogat expressed disappointment on Twitter about media reports claiming that the wrestlers had gone to the WFI office for a compromise. She accused Singh of using his power and spreading false narratives to harass women wrestlers. Vinesh Phogat emphasized the importance of Singh's arrest, stating that it would bring hope for justice.
According to officials, the Delhi Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) handling the sexual harassment allegations against Brij Bhushan Singh is expected to submit its investigation report to the court in the two cases registered against him next week.
The wrestlers' protest against the WFI president highlights the serious concerns within the wrestling community regarding the alleged misconduct and harassment. The athletes have taken a firm stance, insisting that their participation in the Asian Games is contingent upon the resolution of these issues. As the investigation progresses, the wrestling community and sports authorities eagerly await the outcome, hoping for a just and fair resolution to the accusations
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