The Wrestling Federation of India today said the players who have leveled sexual harassment allegations against the WFI chief have a hidden agenda.
“The protest is not in the best interest of the wrestlers nor to promote good wrestling in India, but to subvert the existing fair and strict management of WFI and to create such a hostile environment for some personal and Also there are hidden agendas to create undue pressure in public,” the wrestling body said in a letter to the Ministry of Youth Affairs.
Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Punia are among the athletes who have been protesting at Jantar Mantar for the past 3 days.
Wrestlers have alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers and mismanagement of the affairs of the federation by the WFI president and his coaches. He demanded a complete metamorphosis of the federation.
Responding to the allegations of mismanagement, the wrestling association said it has always worked keeping in mind the interest of the wrestlers.
WFI said, “WFI is managed by an elected body as per its constitution, and therefore, there is no scope for arbitrariness and mismanagement of WFI by any one individual including the President.”
WFI has enhanced the image of the sport of wrestling at national and international level and this would not have been possible without fair, supportive, clean and strict management of WFI for the records of this Ministry.
