Olympic rings: as a small girl from a small village I did not know what was the Olympics or what these rings meant. As a small girl, I dream of things like long hair, flaunting a mobile phone in my hand and doing all these things that any young girl would normally dream of.

My father, an ordinary bus driver, would tell me that one day he would see his daughter fly high in a plane while he would drive on the road below, that only I would turn my father’s dreams into a reality. I don’t want to say it, but I think I was his favourite child because I was the youngest of the three. When he used to tell me about this I used to laugh at the absurd thought of it, it did not mean much to me. My mother, who could have a whole story written on the hardships of her life, only dreamt that all her children would one day will live a life better than she did. Being independent and her kids being up on their own feet was enough of a dream for her. Her wishes and dreams were much more simple than my father’s.

But the day my father left us, all I was left with were his thoughts and words about flying in that plane. I was confused about it’s meaning then but held that dream close to me anyway. My mother’s dream was now further away because a couple months after my father’s death she was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. Here began the journey of three kids who would lose their childhood to support their single mother. Soon my dreams of long hair, a mobile phone faded as I faced the reality of life and got into the race of survival.

But survival taught me a lot. Seeing my mother’s hardships, never-give-up attitude and fighting spirit is what makes me the way I am. She taught me to fight for what is rightfully mine. When I think about courage I think about her and it is this courage that helps me fight every fight without thinking about the outcome.

Despite a difficult road ahead we as a family never lost our faith in god and always trusted that he had planned the right things for us. Mother always said God will never let bad things happen to good people. I believed this even more when I crossed paths with Somvir, my husband, soulmate, companion and best friend for life. Somvir has taken every place in my life with his companionship and supported me with each role he took. To any we were equal partners when we faced a challenge would be wrong, for he sacrificed at each step and took my hardships, shielding me always. He placed my journey above his and offered his companionship with utmost loyalty, dedication and honesty. If not for him, I cannot imagine being here, continuing my fight and taking each day head-on. This is only possible because I know he is standing with me, behind me and when needed in front of me, always protecting me.

My journey here has allowed me to meet so many people, most good and some bad. In the past 1.5-2 years, a lot has happened off and on the mat. My life took many turns, felt like life took a stop for good and there was no way out from the pit we were in. But the people around me had honesty in them, they had goodwill and massive support for me. These people and their faith in me was so strongly grounded, it is because of them that I could continue through the challenges and get through the past 2 years.

For my journey on the mat, my support team for the past two years has played a huge part.

Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala. This is not a new name in Indian Sports. For me, and I think for many other Indian athletes, he is not just a doctor but an angel in disguise sent by god. When I had stopped believing in myself after facing injuries, it was his belief, work and faith in me that got me back on my feet again. He has operated on me not once but thrice (both knees and one elbow) and has shown me how resilient the human body can be. His dedication, kindness and honesty towards his work and towards Indian Sports is something no one will doubt including God. I’m forever grateful to him and his entire team for their work and dedication. As a part of the Indian contingent having him present at the Paris Olympics was a god’s gift for all fellow athletes.

Dr. Wayne Patrick Lombard. He has helped me through the most difficult journey that an athlete faces not once but twice. Science is one side, no doubt about his expertise, but his kind, patient and creative approach toward handling complicated injuries has gotten me so far. Both the times I was injured and operated it was his work and efforts that made me bounce back from the bottom. He taught me how to take one day at a time and every session with him has felt like a natural stressbuster. I see him as an elder brother, always checking on me even when we were not working together.

Woller Akos. Anything I write about him will always be less. In the world of Women’s Wrestling, I have found him to be the best coach, best guide and best human, able to handle any situation with his calmness, patience and confidence. He does not have the word impossible in his dictionary and he is always ready with a plan whenever we face a tough situation on or off the mat. There were times when I doubted myself, and was shitting away from my internal focus and he would know exactly what to say and how to bring me back on my path. He was more than a coach, my family in Wrestling. He was never hungry to take credit for my victory and success, always humble and taking a step back as soon as his work was done on the mat. But I want to give him the recognition he much deserves, whatever I do will never be enough to thank him for his sacrifices, for the time he spent away from his family. I can never repay him for the time lost with his two small boys. I wonder if they know what their father has done for me and if they understand how important his contributions have been. All I can do today is tell the world that if it hadn’t been for you I would not have done on the mat what I have done.

Ashwini Jeevan Patil. The first day we met in 2022, immediate security I felt by the way she took care of me that day, her confidence was enough to make me feel that she could take care of wrestlers and this difficult game. Through the past 2.5 years she went through this journey with me like it was her own, every competition, win and loss, every injury and rehab journey was hers as much as it was mine. This is the first time I met a physiotherapist who has shown this much dedication and reverence towards me and my journey. Only the both of us really know what we went through before every training, after every training session and in the moments in between.

Tajinder Kaur. The journey of my weight loss post-surgery for the past year was as challenging as rehabbing the injury. Cutting over 10kgs while taking care of an injury and preparing for the Olympics is no easy task. I remember when I first told you about playing in the 50kgs category and the way you reassured me that we would achieve this while taking care of the injury simultaneously. It was your persistent encouragement and your reminders about our goal, the Olympic gold, that helped me get through the weight cut.

Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ) and team. (Viren Rasquinha Sir, Yatin Bhatkar, Mugdha Barve – Psychologist, Mayank Singh Garia – SnC Coach, Arvind, Shubham, Paryas, Yugam – Sparring partners and many others working behind the curtain) I cannot imagine the upward journey Indian Sports has had without the contributions of OGQ. What this entire team has achieved in the past decades is all because of the people in this team and their honest passion towards sports. In two of the most difficult times in recent years, one – post-Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and two – post the Wrestler’s protest and ACL surgery in 2023, it was because of their backing and constant support that I could overcome. Not a day passed by without them checking in, making sure I was safe, progressing and on the right path. Me and my many fellow athletes in this generation are very very lucky to have OGQ, an organisation made up of and founded by some legendary athletes who take care of us.

CDM (Chef-de-Mission) Gagan Narang sir and the Olympic team support staff. I met Gagan sir in close acquaintance for the first time and his kindness and empathy towards an athlete was exactly what is needed in high-pressure situation like the games. I want to appreciate the genuine efforts of the entire team that worked day and night for the Indian contingent in the games Village. The recovery room team, masseuse was something I had never experienced in my entire career during the games.

During the wrestlers protest I was fighting hard to protect the sanctity of women in India, the sanctity and values of our Indian flag. But when I look at the pictures of me with the Indian flag from 28th May 2023, it haunts me. It was my wish to have the Indian flag fly high this Olympics, to have a picture of the Indian flag with me that truly represents it’s value and restores it’s sanctity. I felt that by doing this it will correctly reprimand what the flag went through and what wrestling went through. I really was hoping to show that to my fellow Indians.

There is so much more to say and so much more to tell but words will never be enough and maybe I will speak again when the time feels right. On the night of 6th August and the morning of 7th August, all I want to say is that we did not give up, our efforts did not stop, and we did not surrender but the clock stopped and the time was not fair. So was my fate. To my team, my fellow Indians and my family, it feels like the goal that we were working towards and what we had planned to achieve is unfmished, that something might always remain missing, and that things might never be the same again. Maybe under different circumstances, I could see myself playing till 2032, because the fight in me and wrestling in me will always be there. I can’t predict what the future holds for me, and what awaits me in this journey next, but I am sure that I will continue to fight always for what I believe in and for the right thing.

First Published on The Aidem.

The post Vinesh Arrives in India With A Resolve To Fight appeared first on SabrangIndia.

“Congratulations!! You have not lost. You are our hero and will remain so,” the letter, also released in Hindi, opened by saying.

It continued: “Yesterday in Paris you showed what you really are. Your skill is unmatched and there is no height that you can’t scale.”

Asking Phogat not to be disappointed by what happened, the letter says, “We understand that it was not your responsibility to take care of your weight”, before calling for an investigation into the circumstances behind her disqualification.

Phogat qualified for the final match in the 50 kg women’s freestyle wrestling event at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday (August 6), but was disqualified early today when she was found to weigh more than 50 kg.

“Despite the best efforts by the team through the night, she weighed in a few grams over 50 kg this morning,” the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said in a press release on Wednesday.

According to The Hindu, which cited chief coach Virender Dahiya, Phogat weighed exactly 100 grams over 50 kg today.

The Wrestling Federation of India has appealed to global wrestling governing body United World Wrestling (UWW) asking it to reconsider Phogat’s disqualification, and the IOA has lodged its “strong protest” with the UWW.

The open letter to Phogat, the English version of which is reproduced in full at the end of this article, also expressed protest against her disqualification.

“When you return from Paris, we will all meet once again at Jantar Mantar and celebrate your success,” the letter said, adding: “Winning a medal or not is not the measure of victory. The measure of success and victory is your determination and courage.”

If she was not disqualified, Phogat was guaranteed at least a silver medal at the Olympics event today and was set to face off against the US’s Sarah Hildebrandt in the final. She had earlier beaten Japan’s Yui Susaki 3-2 in an upset.

Last year, Phogat was at the forefront of protests against former Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is accused of sexually harassing multiple wrestlers and against whom a court ordered the framing of charges in May.

During and following the protests, Phogat faced a vicious hate campaign, including death threats, unfold against her, with Singh and many others questioning her abilities.

Singh denies the allegations against him.

§

OPEN LETTER TO VINESH PHOGAT

YOU ARE OUR CHAMPION!!

Feminist solidarity with Vinesh

Dear Vinesh,

Congratulations!!

You have not lost. You are our hero and will remain so. Yesterday in Paris you showed what you really are. Your skill is unmatched and there is no height that you can’t scale.

Please don’t be disappointed by this ‘disqualification’. We understand that it was not your responsibility to take care of your weight. There should be an investigation as to where and by whom the mistake has been made. We express our protest against your disqualification and would like to request you not to feel sad in this moment.

You will keep flying high, do not lose hope. You are and will remain our hero.

When you return from Paris, we will all meet once again at Jantar Mantar and celebrate your success.

Winning a medal or not is not the measure of victory. The measure of success and victory is your determination and courage.

Justice-loving and feminist saathis of India and around the world were, are and will always be with you!

1. Devyani Bharadwaj, Educationist and Writer, Delhi
2. Annie Raja NFIW
3. Kavita Srivastava, PUCL
4. Jagmati Sangwan, AIDWA
5. Sarika Shrivastava NFIW
6. Dr. Seema Jain, AIDWA Rajasthan
7. G. Jhansi, Poonam Kaushik, All India Coordination POW -PMS- IJM.
8. Neeta Hardikar, Anna Suraksha Adhikar Abhiyan, Gujarat
9. Maya John, Centre for Struggling Women (CSW)
10. Nivedita Jha, NFIW
11. Adv Vertika Mani, PUCL Delhi
12. Meera Sanghamitra (All India Feminist Alliance – ALIFA and NAPM)
13. Deepthi Sirla, ALIFA, Telangana
14. Asomi Gogoi, Asom Mahila Sangha (NFIW)
15. Suneetha, ALIFA, Hyderabad.
16. Mariam Dhawale AIDWA
17. Navsharan Singh, Social Activist, Delhi and Panjab
18. P. K. Sreemathi AIDWA
19. Poushali Basak, Researcher and Activist
20. Ankana Dey, Social Psychologist, Queer Feminist Activist
21. Sejal Dand, Gujarat Mahila Manch
22. Nisha Biswas, Feminists in Resistance, Kolkata
23. Nita Mahadev, Gujarat Lok Samiti
24. Saloni Mundra, Aajeevika Bureau
25. Seema Azad, PUCL, Uttar Pradaeh
26. Aruna Roy, NFIW
27. Meena Saraswathi Seshu, Sangli, Maharashtra
28. Prakriti, All India Feminist Alliance, Delhi
29. Varsha Bharghavi: Varsha, Research Scholar, Telangana
30. Laxmi Murthy, Bangalore
31. Mamata Dash, ALIFA, Delhi
32. Jarjum Ete Arunachal: Jarjum Gamlin Ete, APWWS/AIUFWP, Arunachal Pradesh
33. Anannya Chatterjee, PhD student, Delhi
34. Shiva, ALIFA, Delhi
35. Harpuneet Kaur, ALIFA , PFUS, PU Chandigarh
36. Tashi Choedup, Buddhist monastic, Social Justice activist, Hyderabad
37. Jashodhara, Uttarakhand
38. Aditi Maddali, Researcher, Bombay
39. Arundhati Ghosh, Cultural Practitioner, Bangalore
40. Dr. Vandana Prasad, Public Health Professional, New Delhi
41. K. Sajaya, Independent Journalist, Hyderabad
42. Anita Cheria, OpenSpace, Bangalore
43. Khairunnisha, Social Activist, Gujarat
44. Radhika Desai, Marathmoli, Maharashtra
45. Simin Akhter, CTF, ALIFA
46. Dr. Sanju ALIFA, Sadulpur, Rajasthan
47. Prerna Mishra, Independent Researcher, Bhopal
48. S. Seethalakshmi, independent Researcher, Hyderabad
49. Ajitha George, social activist, Jharkhand
50. Madhuri, Social Activist, Madhya Pradesh
51. Sunita Singh, Social Activist, Uttar Pradesh
52. Renuka Kad, Social Activist, Aurangabad
53. J Devika, feminist scholar, Kerala
54. Swathi SB, Health Rights Researcher, Bangalore
55. Tejaswini Madabhushi, Hyderabad for Feminism, Hyderabad
56. Nandita Haksar, Feminist, Human Rights Activist
57. Dr. Gabriele Dietrich, Penn Urimay Iyakkam and ALIFA-NAPM, TN
58. Kamal Thakar, Sahiyar Sangathan, Gujarat
59. Chayanika Shah Hasrat-e-Zindagi Mamuli Mumbai
60. Roshani Sadhu, Panam Mahila Sangathan, Gujarat
61. Neelima, Nishant Natya Manch
62. Sumedha Bodh, PUCL Delhi
63. Tarkeshwari Negi, PUCL Delhi
64. Mani Mala, PUCL Delhi
65. Runu Chakraborty, PUCL Delhi
66. Dr. Veena Shatrughna, Scientist & Nutritionist, Bengaluru
67. Roshani Sadhu, Shehara, Gujarat
68. Tarulata Chauhan, Godhra, Gujarat
69. Madhuben, Morbi, Gujarat
70. Nikita Naidu, Climate Action, Hyderabad
71. Mithun, Public Health Researcher, Hyderabad
72. Anita Mathur, Women’s Activist, Jaipur
73. Shabnam, Vishakha, Jaipur
74. Shakuntala Pamecha, Rajsamand Jan Vikas Sansthan
75. Vijaylakshmi, PUCL, Jaipur
76. Nishat Hussain and Jahanara, National Muslim Women’s Welfare, Society, Jaipur
77. Dr. Malti Gupta, RUWA and NFIW
78. Dr. Pritam Pal, Women’s Activist, Jaipur
79. Sumitra Thacker, Gujarat,
80. Manjula Pradeep, social and women’s  activist, Gujarat
81. Kailas Baria, Social Worker, Gujarat
82. Jahnvi Andharia, New Delhi
83. Apeksha Vora, Bengaluru
84. Anuradha Banerji, Independent Researcher cum Saheli, women’s resource centre
85. Vani Subramaniam, Independent Film Make,
86. Savita Sharma, Saheli Women’s Resource centre
87. Ashima Roy Chowdhury, Saheli Women’s Resource Centre
88. Smita Gupta, Economist, N Delhi
89. Amrita Howlader, Feminist in Resistance, Kolkata
90. P Padmavathi, Ex MLA
91. Dr. Shashilata Puri, RUWA
92. Abha Bhaiya, Feminist Activist, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh
93. Lara Jesani, PUCL, Maharashtra
94. Mamta Jaitly, Vividha Mahila Alaikhan evam Sandharbh Kendra
95. Dr. Renuka Pamecha, Women’s Rehabilitation Group
96. Kanchan Mathur, Independent Scholar
97. Prof. Asha Kaushik, RUWA
98. Nisha Sidhu, NFIW
99. Isha Sharma, NFIW
100. Komal Srivastava, BGVS
101. Asha Mishra, BGVS
102. Aishwarya Ravikumar, PUCL Karnataka
103. Manavi Atri, PUCL Karnataka
104. Sumitra Chopra, AIDWA
105. Natasha Narwal, Research Scholar and Activist
106. Gargie Mangulkar, Pune
107. Vanita Nayak Mukherjee, Researcher and Independent Activist
108. Sadhna Arya, Retired  Professor, Delhi University
109. Ammu Abraham, Mumbai
110. Tarini Manchanda, ALIFA Delhi
111. Nagasaila Advocate, Madras High Court
112. NS Tanvi, Advocate Madras High court
113. Sitara, PUCL, Karoli 

The post ‘You Have Not Lost. You Are Our Hero’: Letter of Feminist Solidarity With Vinesh Phogat appeared first on SabrangIndia.

“No, I don’t have any permission. If you can please forward this letter to the PM’s because I can’t go inside. I am not protesting nor being aggressive” Punia said as he was stopped from entering the building.

It is crucial to highlight that Punia had also written a letter addressed to the Prime Minister upon which he kept the medal. As per a report of the Telegraph, Punia told the reporters that “I am putting my medal on the letter written to PM Modi. I will not take this medal back home”. Later, police officials could be seen picking up both the letter and the medal.

These steps are in protest to the election of Singh, who is a close aid and business partner of former WFI president and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment by six women wrestlers. Through the protest by women wrestlers against Brij Bhushan, Punia was a constant supporter. With Singh being elected, the wrestlers have been emphasising that the culture of abuse and harassment of women wrestlers will continue. It is crucial to note here that Brij Bhushan himself had nominated Singh’s name for the election. 

Minutes prior to this, Bajrang Punia took to ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) to announce his decision of returning his Padma Shri award, which was conferred upon him in the year 2019. Punia has won multiple medals for India at the World and Asian Championships apart from the Asian Games. On social media, Punia wrote “I am returning my Padmashree award to the Prime Minister.” With his post, he also attached the letter that he wrote to the Prime Minister. “This is just my letter. This is my statement,” he wrote on his social media post. 

The open letter was written in Hindi, but has been translated to English for this article. Addressing it to the Prime Minister, Punia wrote “Respected Prime Minister, hope you are well. You will be busy serving the country. Amidst your busy schedule, I would like to draw your attention to our sport of wrestling.”

With this, Punia referred to the beginning of the protest by women wrestlers in the month of January, when the allegations of sexual harassment being levied against Brij Bhushan had come forth. He wrote “You must be aware that in the month of January this year, the women wrestlers of our country had made serious allegations of sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan Singh, who was in charge of the wrestling federation. When the movement started, I also joined it. The agitating wrestlers returned to their homes in January when the government assured them of taking concrete action. But even after three months, when an FIR was not filed against Brij Bhushan, we took to the streets again in the month of April, and protested asking the Delhi Police to at least register an FIR against Brij Bhushan Singh. But things still did not work out, so we had to go to court. We had to go and lodge an FIR.”

The Olympic medallist then refers to the pressure that the women complainants went through at the hands of Brij Bhushan. As stated in this letter, from the month of January to July, the number of complaints dwindled down to 6 from the initial 19. “In January, the number of women wrestlers (complainants) was 19, which came down to 7 by April. That is, in three months, with his power, Brij Bhushan Singh had repelled 12 women wrestlers in their fight for justice. The movement lasted for 40 days. In these 40 days, one female wrestler further retreated.”

Punia further refers to the pressure faced by the protestors at the hand of the administration, and writes “There was a lot of pressure on all of us. Our protest site was destroyed and we were chased out of Delhi and our protest was banned. When this happened, we had no idea what to do. That’s why we thought of shedding our medals in the Ganga. When we went there, our coaches and the farmers did not allow us to do so.”

Furthermore, Punia referred to the assurances given to them by the union Home Ministers and other ministers regarding future steps that will be taken against Brij Bhushan and his supporters, which they had trusted and put a paused to protests. In his letter, he wrote “At the same time, we received a call came from one of your responsible ministers and we were told to come back. That justice would be done. Meanwhile, we also met our Home Minister, where he assured us that he will support the women wrestlers in getting justice and will expel Brij Bhushan, his family and his henchmen from the Wrestling Federation. We accepted his advice and ended our movement from the streets, because the government would resolve the wrestling union and the fight for justice would be fought in the court. These two things seemed logical to us.”

Punia then refers to the election of Brij Bhushna’s loyalist as a victory for Brij Bhushan himself. He stated “But in the wrestling federation elections held on December 21, Brij Bhushan has once again won. He gave the statement that “there is dominance and there will be dominance.” A person accused of sexual exploitation of female wrestlers was again openly claiming his dominance over the body that manages wrestling. Under this mental pressure, Sakshi Malik, the only woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal, was forced to retired from wrestling.”

Speaking about the helplessness that the wrestlers feel, Punia wrote “All of us spent the night crying. We couldn’t understand where to go, what to do and how to live.”

Regarding his decision to return the award, Punia stated “The government and the people gave us so much respect. Should I continue to suffocate under the burden of this respect? In the year 2019, I was awarded the Padma Shri and was also honoured with the Khel Ratna and the Arjuna Award. I was very happy when I received these honours. It seemed my life had been successful. But today I am more unhappy than before and these honours are hurting me. There is only one reason. My fellow women wrestlers have to give up the sport of wrestling for their safety. The same sport which gave me this honour.”

Emphasising the role that women sports athletes play, Punia wrote “Sports had brought tremendous changes in the lives of our women players. Earlier, one could not even imagine that, in rural India, that boys and girls would be seen playing together in fields. But this could happen because of the courage of the first-generation of women players. Now you will see girls playing in every village and they are even going abroad to play.”

It is pertinent to highlight here that when the election results came to the forefront, pictures and videos showing Brij Bhushan wearing multiple garlands around his neck, being surrounded by men chanting his name and posing for the camera were floating around social media. Next to Brij Bhushan, the newly elected WFI president, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Sanjay Singh could be seen standing with a huge smile plastered on his face. Both Brij Bhushan and Singh could be seen flashing a victory sign at the cameras. Punia refers to the said pictures of Brij Bhushan and Singh, and states “But those who continue to dominate the sport, where even their shadow scares the women players have now completely taken over again. The photo of them with flowers and garlands around their necks must have reached you. The daughters who were to become the brand ambassadors of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao have been put in such a situation that they have to step back from their game.”

Referring to his dismay and helplessness, Punia states “We “respected” wrestlers could not do anything. I will not be able to live my life as a “respected” person after our female wrestlers were insulted. Such a life will torment me. That’s why I am returning this “honour” to you. Whenever we used to go to any program, the stage director would introduce us by calling us Padma Shri, Khel Ratna and Arjun awardee wrestlers and people would clap with great enthusiasm. Now if someone calls me like this, I will feel disgusted because despite having so much respect, a female wrestler was deprived of the respectable life that everyone wants to live.”

Punia ends the letter by stating that it is his hope that justice will one day prevail. He states “I have full faith in God, there is delay in his house but not darkness. One day justice will definitely triumph over injustice.”

He signs the letter by writing “Bajrang Punia, Asammanit Pehelwan (Disrespected wrestler)”

The letter can be accessed here:

मैं अपना पद्मश्री पुरस्कार प्रधानमंत्री जी को वापस लौटा रहा हूँ. कहने के लिए बस मेरा यह पत्र है. यही मेरी स्टेटमेंट है। pic.twitter.com/PYfA9KhUg9

— Bajrang Punia (@BajrangPunia) December 22, 2023

Last year, Union Home Minister had assured us to wait for 30-40 days after we told him everything about what Brij Bhushan was up to: Vinesh Phogat

A report of the Indian Express stated that Vinesh Phogat, who was also at the forefront of the protests along with Sakshi Malik, Sangeeta Phogat and Punia, referred to retiring or returning the award as the “final, desperate step” that any athlete can take.

“Bajrang, Sakshi and I were together just before the elections were taking place. We discussed the possibility of Sanjay Singh winning and Sakshi immediately said if that happened, she would not be able to continue wrestling. She broke down as she said that and looking at her, even Bajrang began crying,” Phogat was reported as telling The Indian Express.

As per the report, Phogat stated that the wrestlers felt let down by the government as they had promised to take action against Brij Bhushan and ensure neither his family members nor close aides would be a part of the federation, and yet Singh has not become the president of WFI.

According to the report, Vinesh then recalls the meeting that she and Punia had with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in 2022 after they had won the bronze medal at the World Championship. As per Phogat, “Bajrang and I met Home Minister Amit Shah at his official residence. It was just the three of us and Babita Phogat in that meeting. We informed him about everything that Brij Bhushan was up to. We even gave him the names of the girls who had been his victims. He asked us to wait for 30-40 days and told us not to worry about it.” Notably, Babita Phogat, a member of the BJP, had not supported the wrestlers in their protest against Brij Bhushan.

Phogat told the IE that the government kept giving them repeated assurances until they stopped answering their calls. Vinesh also said that they would not be engaging with the new WFI president Sanjay Singh as he considers Brij Bhushan as his “brother”. Referring to the garlanded pictures of Brij Bhushan, she said “Who is Sanjay Singh? Who was wearing garlands after the elections?” 

On her position regarding retiring from the sport, Phogat said that would retire, if at all, “on her terms”. As per the IE report, she asserted that “If I quit, it will be my decision not because of anyone’s dadagiri. We will continue our fight. Brij Bhushan’s ego is too big. But it’s the ego that will lead to his eventual downfall.” 

Related:

Wrestler Sakshi Malik quits wrestling as close aid of sexual harassment accused Brij Bhushan gets elected as president

Clear case of re-victimisation: Former SC judge Madan B Lokur on Delhi Police’s handling of women wrestlers case

Protesting wrestlers will resume stir, say govt not ready to arrest WFI chief by June 15

Mumbai: Silent protest organised to condemn the injustice meted out to women wrestlers

FIRs suggest wrestlers had informed PM about their repeated sexual trauma in 2021

The post Bajrang Punia returns Padma Shri, in open letter to PM Modi states “My fellow women wrestlers gave up sports for safety, that’s why I am returning this “honour” to you” appeared first on SabrangIndia.