wrestlers accuse the boss of the Indian federation and coaches

Several professional Indian wrestlers assured that they had been the victim of sexual harassment during a demonstration in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Vinesh Phogat, one of the most medalists in India history, accused on Wednesday on Wednesday January 18, the boss of his federation and several coaches to have sexually harassed athletes. “Wrestlers were sexually harassed during national camps by coaches and also by the president of WFI (Indian Federation of Wrestling)”, Assured Vinesh Phogat, accompanied by several high -level wrestlers and wrestlers, during a demonstration in New Delhi.

“I know at least 10 to 20 girls from the national camp who came to tell me their stories “she continued. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, president of WFI and deputy of the ruling party (BJP) as well as the coaches are guilty, she told journalists. This accusation comes a few months after the dismissal of the coach of the national cycling team due to charges of sexual harassment.

According to Vinesh Phogat, many wrestlers do not dare to speak because of their modest origins in an extremely hierarchical Indian society. “They are afraid because of their original environment. They are unable to fight against them, they are powerful”added the 28 athlete ans. “The struggle is our only means of existence and they do not let us exercise it. Our only option is to die. So you might as well do what is just before dying”she argued. She did not specify if she herself was one of the victims.

Sakshi Malik, another wrestler, Olympic bronze medalist in 2016, also participated in Wednesday's demonstration. “The athletes work hard to win medals for the country, but the federation only dropped us”said on Twitter The one who was the first Indian wrestler to win a medal in the Olympic Games.

Bronze medalist of the Tokyo Olympic Games, Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia also joined the demonstration and complained about the authoritarian methods of Brita Bhushan Singh Singh to direct the WFI. “The work of the Federation is to support athletes, to ensure their needs. And if there is a problem, to solve it“He said on Twitter, “But what to do if the federation itself creates the problem ? Now we have to fight, we will not back down.“

The #MeToo movement gained momentum in India in 2018 following accusations of sexual harassment carried by the actress of Bollywood Tanishree Dutta against actor Nana Patekar. Shortly after, women of all circles in turn manifested themselves to denounce their alleged attackers, including a former Minister of the Government, but according to feminist activists, no fundamental change has since happened.