WFI Wrestling: WFI's emergency general council meeting in UP's Ayodhya called off
New Delhi/IBNS: The emergency meeting of the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) general council, scheduled for Sunday in UP's Ayodhya, was cancelled following the Union sports ministry's order to suspend all its ongoing activities in the wake of the allegations of sexual abuse and harassment against the sports body and its president, said a report in the media.
On Saturday, the Union sports ministry directed the WFI to suspend “all ongoing activities with immediate effect”, including the Ranking Tournament in Gonda, UP, the federation president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s stronghold.
The ministry on Saturday also suspended WFI’s assistant secretary Vinod Tomar, after allegations of sexual harassment and corruption against the sports body’s chief.
On Friday, Singh’s son and MLA from Sadar seat Prateek Bhushan that the WFI president will release his statement after consulting the office-bearers of the federation on Jan 22.
He said that the reply to the notice given by the Union Sports Ministry has been sent.
The WFI chief has denied allegations of sexual abuse and harassment, saying he would hang himself if any wrestler can prove the accusations.
The wrestlers began their protest at the Jantar Mantar last Wednesday and said they would continue until their demands are met.
Wrestlers like Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang Punia, world championship medalist Vinesh Phogat, Rio Olympics medalist Sakshi Malik, world championship medallist Sarita Mor, Sangeeta Phogat, Satyawart Malik, Jitender Kinha, and CWG medallist Sumit Malik among others have joined the protest.
Alleging that sexual exploitation and abuse have been going on for years, India’s star wrestler Vinesh Phogat, "I spoke out against it. Brij Bhushan Saharan Singh was sexually harassing the female wrestlers. No one takes responsibility for injuries. They talk of banning wrestlers from nationals. The WFI president called me khota sikka (useless). I wanted to commit suicide.”
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