Vinesh, Bajrang, other wrestlers accuse WFI president of sexual assault

India's top wrestlers, including Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, and double World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat, today alleged that Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh had sexual assaulted female wrestlers and issued death threats to athletes.

The wrestlers made the allegations at a press conference this evening, following a public protest that began in the morning at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

Bajrang, Vinesh, Rio Olympics medallist Sakshi Malik, world championship medallist Sarita Mor, Sangeeta Phogat, Satyawart Kadian, Jitender Kinha and CWG medallist Sumit Malik were among the 30 wrestlers who assembled at Jantar Mantar.

She said, after the Tokyo Olympics defeat, the WFI president mentally tortured her and she even considered ending her life.

The wrestlers alleged that the federation interfered in their personal lives, too. They also said that the Indian contingent did not have a physio or a coach at the Olympics, and that the athletes were threatened when they questioned it.

Anshu Malik, Sangeeta Phogat and other wrestlers also tweeted on the same lines with the hashtag BoycottWFIPresident and tagged PMO, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Singh, who is also a BJP MP from Kaiserganj, however, denied all allegations.

He also took a dig at the protesting wrestlers, saying they have not contested any national tournament after the Olympics.

Singh has been at the helm since 2011. He was elected president of WFI for the third consecutive time in February 2019.