Rohtak, India – A shocking account of sexual abuse by one of the most powerful men in Indian sports has rocked the wrestling community in Haryana. The man accused, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, is facing allegations of sexually abusing young wrestlers for at least a decade, prompting protests and demands for his removal from the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The victims, including top freestyle wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik, have spoken out against Singh, alleging a culture of brazen sexual abuse under his leadership.
Despite the protests and police complaints filed against Singh, the victims and their supporters continue to face intimidation and threats to silence them. The influence and political clout wielded by Singh have made it difficult for the victims to seek justice, with allegations of using the National Anti-Doping Agency (Nada) to tarnish their reputations and careers.
The scandal has cast a shadow over India’s successful wrestling community, particularly in Haryana, known for producing Olympic champions. The fear of sexual abuse has deterred parents from enrolling their daughters in wrestling academies, leading to a decline in attendance.
As India gears up for the Paris Olympics, where five women wrestlers from Haryana are set to compete, the legacy of abuse and intimidation by Singh continues to haunt the wrestling community. While Singh is now on trial for sexual harassment and is no longer the chief of WFI, his close ties to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and key positions in the federation suggest that his influence still lingers.
The wrestling community in Haryana is reeling from the impact of the scandal, with coaches and academies struggling to attract new talent amid fears of abuse. The legacy of abuse by a once powerful figure in Indian sports serves as a grim reminder of the challenges faced by athletes, especially women, in a male-dominated industry.
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