“Mental torture, Death threats and harassment” – Vinesh Phogat breaks down while alleging WFI president

In a recent and a very shocking development, the Wrestling fraternity of India were forced to sit and protest against the president of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Brij Bushan Singh. The protesting wrestlers are reportedly eager to see Bushan out of office or else they wont play in any competition in the future.

This is unprecedented.
Country's top wrestlers, including @BajrangPunia , @Phogat_Vinesh , @SakshiMalik @OLyAnshu @saritamor3 @sangeeta_phogat are sitting on Dharna to speak against the dictatorial style of functioning at WFI. pic.twitter.com/d4OYiItsnj

— Amanpreet Singh (ਅਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ) (@amanthejourno) January 18, 2023

Total of 30 Wrestlers have staged an uproar of protest against the office-bearer Brij Bushan who is being accused of harassing and torturing female Wrestlers during the national camp. All of the 30 Wrestlers are against the possible dictatorship shown by the president.

Among the protesters is Olympic Bronze medalist Vinesh Phogat who is leading the pact. She has been extremely vocal about this issue and has demanded for immediate actions against the people who are involved in it. Her series of allegations began with disclosing that Brij Bushan Singh and his related officials have sexually harassed countless women wrestlers.

#WATCH दिल्ली: जंतर-मंतर पर WFI के खिलाफ प्रदर्शन के दौरान भावुक होते हुए भारतीय पहलवान व ओलंपियन विनेश फोगाट ने कहा, "फेडरेशन की ओर से खिलाड़ियों का शोषण किया गया। किसी भी खिलाड़ी को कुछ होता है तो उसकी ज़िम्मेदार कुश्ती संघ के अध्यक्ष व फेडरेशन होगी।" pic.twitter.com/fWrmxOz9kd

— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) January 18, 2023

Vinesh added that she can name at least 10 Wrestlers who have been recipients in the past and that none of them are willing to come forward and express due to unknown reasons. She even accused Bushan of eating the payment of her foreign coach.

खिलाड़ी पूरी मेहनत कर के देश को मेडल दिलाता हैं लेकिन फेडरेशन ने हमें नीचा दिखाने के अलावा कुछ नहीं किया। मनचाहे क़ायदे क़ानून लगा कर खिलाड़ियों को प्रताड़ित किया जा रहा है। #BoycottWFIPresident#BoycottWrestlingPresident@PMOIndia @AmitShah @narendramodi

— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) January 18, 2023

In her own words she said – “I was mentally tortured after the Tokyo Olympics. It was so bad that I was suicidal due to this. What would have my family done if something had happened to me? If anything happens to us wrestlers, the federation should be responsible.”