’Battle to continue in court’: Wrestlers call off protest after 5 months

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, June 26, 2023: Over five months after some of top wrestlers accused Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment, they have decided to call off the protest and battle it out in court.

Top grappler Sakshi Malik took to Twitter to make the announcement. She said the "battle will continue in court".

 

In a meeting of the wrestlers with the government, they were promised that a charge sheet would be filed against Brij Bhushan Singh by June 15. On Sunday. Sakshi said that since the chargesheet was presented in court on June 15, grapplers have decided to call off the protest.

Sakshi also wrote, "With regard to the reform of the wrestling association, the process of election of the new wrestling association has started as promised. The election is scheduled to be held on July 11, but we will wait for its implementation."

Notably, the Gauhati High Court on Sunday stayed the wrestling body polls, based on a petition filed by the Assam Wrestling Association (AWA) against the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) ad-hoc panel, the Sports Ministry, and the WFI.

Top Olympians including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, were demanding Singh’s arrest on allegations of sexual harassment against seven wrestlers, including the minor.

However, the police recommended the cancellation of the complaint filed by the minor wrestler against Singh, citing "no corroborative evidence". Singh also denied any allegations levelled against him by the wrestlers.

Last week, when Malik’s husband and wrestler Satyawart Kadian was asked about their future course of action, he said, "We are still discussing the matter. We will let you know."

The wrestlers had also suggested that an Internal Complaints Committee of WFI headed by a woman be formed. All these proposals were agreed to unanimously by the Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur.

Courtesy: India Today