Chandigarh, May 3: Wrestler and Julana MLA Vinesh Phogat declared Sunday that she is among the six women who filed sexual harassment complaints against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The announcement came via a social media post where the Olympian also raised questions regarding the fairness and safety of the upcoming 2026 Senior Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh.
Phogat stated that the venue, located in Singh’s primary stronghold, presents significant challenges for athletes who spoke out against the former MP. She asserted that the local influence of the former president could compromise the neutrality of the event, which is scheduled for May 10-12 at Nandini Nagar.
“I am one of the six victims who filed complaints against Brij Bhushan,” Phogat affirmed in her post. She maintained that while she initially intended to keep her identity private during the ongoing court proceedings, current circumstances forced her to speak out. The wrestler expressed doubt over whether weigh-ins and refereeing would be conducted impartially, suggesting that the competition officials could be influenced by the former WFI leadership.
The tournament marks Phogat’s first competitive return since the 2024 Paris Olympics and serves as a qualifying path for the Asian Games in Japan. Phogat declared that the pressure of competing in an environment controlled by Singh’s associates makes it difficult to focus entirely on performance. She further maintained that the central government and the Sports Ministry would be held accountable for any untoward incidents involving her team.
WFI President Sanjay Singh countered these allegations by stating that the federation employs a panel of honest and professional referees. He affirmed that no athlete receives special treatment or faces bias on the mat. “I will see to it personally that no harm comes her way during the tournament,” the WFI president declared, seeking to reassure participants of their safety in Gonda.
