The assembly of the Executive Committee and the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Wrestling Federation of India might be held on January 22 in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, the president of the federation, may even participate within the assembly. On Thursday, ace grapplers arrived on the workplace of the Union Sports Ministry in Shashtri Bhawan for a gathering with officers amid wrestlers’ protest towards WFI and its chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh.

“We are going to meet the officials of Union Sports Ministry and will apprise the media about it once the meeting concludes,” mentioned wrestler Bajrang Punia amid wrestlers’ protest towards WFI at Jantar Mantar.

Earlier within the day, champion wrestler and BJP chief Babita Phogat arrived on the protest website at Jantar Mantar in Delhi the place wrestlers continued their sit-in protest for the second day demanding motion towards the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and different officers towards alleged sexual exploitation of a number of athletes and “harassment of wrestlers by the WFI through its arbitrary rules and regulations”.

“I have assured them that the government is with them. I will try that their issues are resolved today,” Babita Phogat mentioned after addressing the gathering.

Babita who’s a deputy director within the Haryana Sports and Youth Affairs Department and a former wrestler had earlier tweeted, “I stand with all my fellow players in this matter of wrestling. I assure all of you that I will work to raise this issue with the government at every level, and the future will be decided the way players feel right.”

For the second day, Bajrang Punia, Sakshee Malikkh, and Vinesh Phogat, amongst others gathered on the Jantar Mantar in Delhi and had been joined by different members of the fraternity.

Notably, Vinesh Phogat had beforehand alleged that coaches who’re favourites of the WFI misbehave with girls 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.

Vinesh, the primary Indian girl wrestler to win gold in each Commonwealth and Asian Games, alleged, “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.”

Earlier on Wednesday, taking cognizance of the protest staged by wrestlers, together with Olympic and Commonwealth Games (CWG) medalists, in Delhi by which girls wrestlers have levelled severe fees 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 a proof from WFI and directed it to furnish a reply throughout the subsequent 72 hours on the allegations made.

The Ministry has additional acknowledged that if WFI fails to furnish the reply throughout 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.

Meanwhile, Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Wednesday mentioned wrestlers, who made allegations of sexual harassment towards coaches, ought to have approached the Federation with their names earlier.

The WFI president mentioned that 97 per cent of wrestlers are with the BFI and people protesting had been pressured into it.

“97 per cent of players are with the WFI. I am hurt by the sexual harassment allegations. Not a single player can bring such charges against me or the chief coach. Some wrestlers were pressured to sit on a dharna,” Singh mentioned.

He claimed that star wrestler Vinesh Phogat had demanded a couple of days again that the chief coach must be modified, however coaches can’t be modified on the whims of a participant.

“A few days ago, in a meeting, Vinesh (Phogat) demanded that chief coach be changed. A coach can’t be changed on the whims and fancies of one player. We have to think about players from other states as well. They should have come with names of the coaches, who they claimed are involved in sexual harassment, earlier,” Bhushan advised ANI.

He denied any incident of sexual harassment, claiming that if such an incident ever occurred, he’ll dangle himself.

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

He additionally mentioned that he’s prepared for an 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,” he added.

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