The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): In a fervent appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, celebrated Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik have called for decisive action against individuals like Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who they accuse of undermining the integrity of Indian sports through acts of oppression. This appeal comes in the wake of the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) recent decision to restore the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) administrative responsibilities, a move that has reignited controversy due to Singh’s contentious leadership.
Through impassioned messages on the social media platform X, Phogat and Malik, who have previously accused Singh of sexually harassing female wrestlers, have implored the Prime Minister to intervene directly. Phogat, an Asian Games gold medalist and a contender in the upcoming Olympic qualifiers, criticized the Prime Minister’s rhetorical support for women’s empowerment, challenging him to substantiate his words with concrete actions against Singh.
Echoing Phogat’s sentiment, Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik highlighted the perceived invincibility of WFI office-bearers like Singh, suggesting they operate beyond the reach of law, government, and judicial oversight. Malik’s statement reflects a deep-seated frustration with the enduring culture of impunity for those in positions of power within Indian sports organizations.
The wrestlers’ outcry follows the IOA’s dissolution of an ad-hoc committee previously overseeing wrestling, reassigning control to the WFI under Sanjay Singh, a close associate of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. This transition, despite prior suspension of the WFI by United World Wrestling, signifies, for many, a continuation of the status quo, perpetuating a climate of fear and misconduct in wrestling governance.
