New Delhi, May 4: Sanjay Singh, the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), has addressed the safety and fairness concerns raised by wrestler Vinesh Phogat. He assured that the federation is fully responsible for the situation and denied any last-minute changes to the tournament venue.
Singh stated, “If Vinesh is worried about her safety, I assure her that I am personally guaranteeing it. We have UWW-approved referees officiating the matches, and all trial bouts are recorded, leaving no room for bias.”
He further questioned the logic of changing the venue and disrupting the schedule when nearly 1,500 wrestlers have already arranged their travel and accommodation without raising any objections about the location or their safety. “Why would WFI create difficulties for participating wrestlers?” he asked.
Previously, Vinesh Phogat revealed that she is one of six female wrestlers who filed formal complaints against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for sexual harassment.
Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Phogat issued a stern warning to the central government and the sports ministry regarding the upcoming National Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda, which is considered Brij Bhushan’s stronghold.
In a video shared on social media, Vinesh emphasized that the Supreme Court’s guidelines protect the identities of victims to maintain their dignity, but she felt compelled to speak out given the current circumstances.
She stated, “Three years ago, we raised our voices against sexual harassment. Six female wrestlers have already testified in court. I wanted to remain silent while the case was ongoing, but today I must tell you that I am one of those six victims who filed a complaint, and our testimonies are still in progress.”
The Commonwealth and Asian Games medalist has raised serious questions about the fairness of the WFI’s National Open Ranking Tournament, scheduled from May 12 to 14 in Gonda.
Vinesh alleged that the chosen venue would compromise the integrity of the competition. She claimed, “The chances of every hardworking athlete getting their due are very slim, almost impossible. Who will referee the matches, and how many points will they award? Brij Bhushan and his associates will control everything.”
She also expressed doubts about the transparency of official procedures, including the crucial weigh-in process. “I don’t believe that the weights of all hardworking wrestlers will be measured fairly, nor will the results reflect their true efforts,” she added.
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PSK
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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