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Triple Commonwealth Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat, considered one of India’s most adorned ladies wrestlers, has accused her federation chief and several other coaches of sexually harassing a number of athletes.

Phogat made the allegations at a public protest in New Delhi on Wednesday, backed by a number of different prime wrestlers, female and male.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) — who can be an MP for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party — and trainers have been culpable, she advised reporters.

“Women wrestlers have been sexually harassed at national camps by coaches and also the WFI president,” she stated.

“I know at least 10-20 girls in the national camp who have come and told me their stories,” she advised reporters.

The allegations come months after the coach of the nation’s nationwide biking group was sacked following sexual harassment expenses.

India is a deeply hierarchical society and Phogat stated many wrestlers have been intimidated from coming ahead due to their humble origins.

“They are scared because of their family background. They can’t fight them because they are powerful.”

“Wrestling is our only livelihood and they are not letting us do it. Our only option is to die. So might as well do good before dying,” she added.

She didn’t state that she was a sufferer herself.

Fellow wrestler and Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, who was additionally a part of the protest, endorsed the allegations.

“Athletes work hard to win medals for the country, but the federation has done nothing but let us down,” she tweeted.

India’s #MeToo motion gathered momentum in 2018 after a Bollywood actress accused a senior actor of sexual harassment.

Soon after, ladies from different backgrounds got here ahead with a number of allegations, together with towards a former authorities minister, however activists say there was little basic change.

According to native media studies, Singh denied the allegations, saying he was “ready to be hanged” if even a single lady wrestler proved the sexual harassment cost.

India’s sports activities ministry has requested the federation to reply to the allegations inside 72 hours, studies stated.

Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia, who’s male and in addition joined the protest, accused Singh of working the federation in a high-handed method.

“The job of the federation is to support the players, take care of their sporting needs. If there is a problem, it has to be solved,” he tweeted.

“But what if the federation itself creates the problem? Now we have to fight, we will not back down.”

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