Wrestlers continue silent sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar against WFI president

Babita Phogat reached the wrestlers’ protest site with Centre’s message

Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and other wrestlers continued to sit on a silent protest at Jantar Mantar for the second day against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and its chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Star wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Wednesday alleged that the WFI president has been sexually exploiting women wrestlers for years, a charge vehemently rejected by the sports administrator.

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Phogat, who has been at loggerheads with the WFI since the Tokyo Olympic Games, also claimed that several coaches at the national camp in Lucknow have also exploited women wrestlers, adding that there are a few women at the camp who approached the wrestlers at the behest of the WFI president.

The 28-year-old, however, clarified that she never faced such exploitation but claimed that “one victim” was present at the ‘dharna’ they began at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday.

Rio Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik, world championship medallist Sarita Mor, Sangeeta Phogat, Anshu Malik, Sonam Malik, Satyawart Malik, Jitender Kinha, Amit Dhankar and CWG medallist Sumit Malik were among 30 wrestlers who assembled at the famous protest site.

Champion wrestler and BJP leader Babita Phogat on Thursday arrived at the protest site at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.