Wrestlers say want action, not words, as more join stir

The unprecedented revolt by India's top wrestlers against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh gathered momentum on Thursday - Tokyo Olympics silver-medallist Ravi Dahiya joined the sit-in at Jantar Mantar with the protesting wrestlers saying they wanted action, not words, from the Union government, and that they were prepared to lodge a police complaint over the alleged sexual harassment and mental torture of women wrestlers by the WFI chief.

- Avishek Roy

The impasse led to a late-night meeting between the wrestlers, led by Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Brijesh Punia, Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, and twice world championships medallist Vinesh Phogat, and Union sports minister Anurag Thakur.

The meeting was still going on till the time of going to print, with people aware of the matter indicating that Thakur has reassured the wrestlers of a thorough probe into the matter. Thakur has also asked the wrestlers to wait for WFI's reply to the allegations. The federation is likely to submit its response on Friday morning.

"The allegations of sexual exploitation are true. Don't force us to reveal names or else it will be a black day not only for wrestlers but for the women of India. There are girls who are ready to talk, and if it comes to that, we are ready to file an FIR against the WFI chief. We have every proof," Vinesh said during the sit-in earlier on Thursday.

When told that Singh had countered their charges saying he will hang himself if a single accusation of harassment is proven against him, Vinesh fumed: "Yesterday, there were one or two victims among us, but today there are five-six wrestlers who have faced harassment. I am getting calls from girls from as far as Kerala and Maharashtra who have been harassed. This is a fight for respect."

Vinesh also brushed aside comments from Singh that most of the players under the aegis of WFI were on his side.