Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chairman Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is under the scanner as a result of ongoing protest by wrestlers who have accused him for sexual exploitation of women wrestlers. In a video which has resurfaced online, Singh can be seen slapping a young wrestler on stage.
Singh, who is also a BJP Lok Sabha MP from Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh, slapped the wrestler who came on stage.
With Singh being in news once again because of the wrestlers’ protest, the video resurfaced online and was shared by many.
Singh later defended himself by saying the wrestler was accused of doing age fraud during U-15 Wrestling Championship.
“This boy came over to the stage and urged to take part in the championship while he was found guilty of age fraud. I didn’t allow him and politely told him to go down from the stage as we already disqualified 5 more wrestlers who were found guilty of doing age fraud and all they belong from UP, not only from UP, I didn’t allow any player who is over age whether he belongs from Delhi, Haryana or any state, If I start doing this on basis of states then I can’t develop wrestling in country,” Singh told ANI.
On Thursday, several senior wrestlers of the country including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia participated in the sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar in the national capital.
Wrestlers have levelled charges of sexual harassment of women wrestlers by the WFI president and its coaches and of mismanagement in the functioning of the federation. The wrestlers have demanded a complete overhaul of the federation.
