India’s Top Wrestlers Demand Action on Sexual Abuse Allegations
Image Source: ESPN.in
India’s top female wrestlers have accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), of sexual abuse. Despite multiple protests and complaints, Singh has not been held accountable, and the Delhi police have been slow in registering their case. The Supreme Court is set to hear a petition filed by a group of wrestlers against Singh on Friday, seeking to register a First Information Report (FIR) against him. The court’s intervention is a rare instance of the Indian government responding to the protests of female athletes against sexual harassment.
The issue has attracted international attention as the wrestlers involved are reigning medalists at the Olympics, World Championships, and Commonwealth Games. Several governmental agencies, ministries, and councils would typically respond to such allegations of sexual assault and harassment, but little action has been taken in this case. The Sports Ministry, led by Union Minister Anurag Thakur, initially denied all wrongdoing in response to the allegations. After meeting with the protesting wrestlers, the Ministry formed a five-member Oversight Committee to investigate the sexual harassment charges and oversee WFI’s day-to-day operations.
However, the committee’s preliminary findings, released in April, did not address the wrestlers’ allegations. The Ministry asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to form an ad-hoc committee to run WFI, and Thakur spoke about the need for impartial elections. The female wrestlers’ fight against sexual harassment allegations in the Indian sports industry highlights the need for greater accountability and action to protect the rights of women athletes. The Supreme Court’s intervention in this case is a significant step towards ensuring justice for the wrestlers and setting a precedent for addressing sexual harassment in sports.
Re-reported from the story originally published in ESPN.in
