OlympianVinesh Phogathas identified herself as one of the six women harassed by former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, alleging upcoming trials for the Asian Games 2026 are rigged to block her comeback. Vinesh was one of the faces of the protest against Brij Bhushan Singh in 2023 at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi, but this is the first time she has publicly accepted herself as one of the six victims.
Vinesh made the revelation in a video address on a social media platform. The case against Brij Bhushan remains pending in the court, with testimonies currently ongoing. Vinesh said that she had initially planned to wait for the proceedings to end, but she was forced to speak due to certain circumstances.
"The Supreme Court guidelines say that the identity of any victim should not be revealed, because it concerns their dignity and honour," Vinesh said in a video shared on social media on Sunday, May 3.
"But today, due to certain circumstances, I want to tell you all something. I did not want to speak while the case is still pending... But I want to say that I myself am one of those six victims who filed a complaint, and our testimonies are still ongoing."
"For a woman, competing in such a situation is very difficult, and every athlete who has gone through such a situation can relate to this," she added.
Vinesh claimed that the National Open Ranking tournament, which is a gateway to remain in contention for Asian Games and World Championship selection trials, is being held at a private college owned by Brij Bhushan in Gonda, making fair play impossible.
"He has his own private college, and this competition is being organised there. That every hardworking athlete will get their due there, this is something very unlikely and almost impossible," she stated.
Vinesh claimed that despite Brij Bhushan's removal, the WFI has continued to work under him.
"Who will referee whose match, how many points a referee will give... all of this will be controlled by Brij Bhushan and his people. And the government and our sports ministry are watching this as silent spectators."
"You can imagine – going to his place, to his own college, where every person would be connected to him... going there and competing in such a situation is extremely difficult. Even after that, whether I will be able to go there and give my 100 per cent-I do not think so."
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