New Delhi: Taking cognizance of the protest staged by wrestlers, together with Olympic and Commonwealth Games (CWG) medalists, in Delhi by which ladies wrestlers have levelled severe costs of sexual harassment by the President and coaches of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and of mismanagement within the functioning of the federation, the Sports Ministry has sought an evidence from WFI and directed it to furnish a reply inside the subsequent 72 hours on the allegations made.

In its communication to WFI, the Ministry has said that “since the matter pertains to the well-being of athletes, the Ministry has taken a very serious view of the matter.”

The Ministry has additional said that if WFI fails to furnish the reply inside the subsequent 72 hours, the Ministry will proceed to provoke motion towards the federation when it comes to the provisions of the National Sports Development Code, 2011.

Further, the Women National Wrestling Coaching camp, which was as a consequence of begin in Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Lucknow on January 18, 2023, with 41 wrestlers and 13 coaches and help employees, has been cancelled.

The Executive Director of NCOE Lucknow has been directed to supply all services to nationwide campers who’ve already reported and are prone to report, until the campers depart from the centre. Necessary info relating to the cancellation of the National Coaching Camp has additionally been despatched to all campers.

Notably, Vinesh Phogat on Wednesday alleged that coaches who’re favourites of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) misbehave with ladies and harass them. She additionally accused the wrestling federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexually harassing women and calling her a ‘khota sikka’ after her defeat on the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

On the sidelines of a sit-in protest towards the WFI close to Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, Phogat mentioned, “Coaches are harassing women and some coaches, who are favourites of the Federation, misbehave with women coaches as well. They sexually harass girls. The WFI president has sexually harassed many girls.”

“After my defeat in the Tokyo Olympics, the WFI president called me a ‘khota sikka’. The Federation mentally tortured me. I would entertain thoughts of ending my life every day. If anything happens to any wrestler, the WFI president will be to blame,” she added.

Olympians Bajrang Punia, Sakshee Malikkh and Phogat led the protest at Jantar Mantar towards the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), alleging “harassment of wrestlers by the WFI through its arbitrary rules and regulations”.

The protesting wrestlers additional accused the WFI of interfering with their private lives and exploiting them.

“When we went to the Olympics, we did not have physio or a coach. After we started raising our voices, we were threatened,” added one other wrestler.

Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia mentioned the wrestlers need the administration of the Federation to be sacked and changed.

“We hope Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and Home Minister (Amit Shah) will support us in our quest,” added Punia.

However, WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh denied any incident of sexual harassment and remarked that if such a factor has occurred, he’ll grasp himself.

“There has been no incident of sexual harassment. If such a thing has happened, then I will hang myself,” mentioned the president throughout a press convention.

He additionally mentioned that he’s prepared for investigation.

“Sexual harassment is a big allegation. How can I take action when my own name has been dragged into this? I am ready for an investigation,” mentioned Brij Bhushan.

A 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Bajrang Punia mentioned the wrestlers is not going to tolerate the continued dictatorship of the Federation.

“We would not tolerate the ongoing dictatorship,” Bajrang informed ANI.

The first Indian girl wrestler to win a gold medal at each the Asian and Commonwealth Games, Vinesh Phogat, expressed her displeasure with the Federation’s administration on Twitter and different wrestlers together with Bajrang and Sakshee additionally took to Twitter to lift their voices towards governing physique of the game within the nation.

“The players want self-respect as they prepare for the Olympics and other big events with full vigour. However, if the federation does not support them, their morale breaks down. But we won’t bog down anymore and will fight for our rights,” she wrote in a tweet.

Meanwhile, Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Assistant Secretary, Vinod Tomar on Wednesday mentioned he was not conscious of what ace wrestlers, together with Vinesh Phogat, Sakshee Malikkh, Bajrang Punia and others had been protesting about.

He added that after the wrestlers method the Federation, all the problems can be resolved and sorted out.

“Do not know what this is all about. However, we came to know from the letter to the WFI president that some wrestlers are sitting in protest. I have come to ask them about their problem,” Tomar informed ANI.

Tomar said that after the wrestlers formally method the Federation, all points can be sorted out.

However, he claimed the protesting wrestlers nonetheless haven’t taken the Federation into confidence about their points.

“They have not yet told me what their grouse is. No issue has been raised with me or the Federation as yet,” he added.