WFI President-Wrestlers Controversy: Oversight Committee to submit probe report to Sports Ministry today; No evidence, yet players hope for a favorable decision

The Oversight Committee probe into the dispute between the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and wrestlers has finally been completed. It took 56 days for the inquiry committees, which promised to investigate and report in less than a month, to reach a conclusion. Today the investigation agency will submit its report to the Sports Ministry.

While the timeline of the Oversight Committee set up to investigate the dispute has been completed on March 8. According to sources associated with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the committee can submit the report to the Sports Ministry at any time today.

According to sources, the wrestlers who made serious allegations of sexual harassment against the WFI president have not been able to provide evidence to the committee. Bhaskar tried to take continuous follow-up on this issue from the wrestler, investigation committee member and sports ministry officials, but no one is saying anything openly.

First read what is the whole matter…

Demonstration of wrestlers and big allegations at Jantar Mantar
On January 18, wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia started a sit-in at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. During this, Vinesh Phogat wept and alleged that Federation President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and the coach sexually harass women wrestlers in the National Camp. Vinesh also said that Brij Bhushan used to stay in the players’ hotel, which is against the rules. After the defeat in Tokyo Olympics, the WFI president called me a fake coin.

MP’s clarification, if the allegations are true, I will be hanged
Sangh President Brij Bhushan came forward on the same day. He said – There has been no harassment of any kind. If it has happened, I will hang myself. Describing the dharna as sponsored, he told Haryana Congress Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Hooda behind it. He had said that now these players are not eligible to play even at the national level.

Conversation with the Union Sports Minister, then picketing
On January 19, the wrestlers had a conversation with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur for about a quarter to four hours. He was asked to wait for the reply of the Wrestling Federation President. The wrestlers asked for the removal of the WFI president. On January 20, after talking to the Sports Minister, the players again started a sit-in at Jantar Mantar. From here the agitating players announced that they will not join any camp till justice is served. Nor will they participate in any competition. Now they will fight for the rights of sports and players.

2 inquiry committees formed
On January 21, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) formed an inquiry committee to see the growing movement. Whose chairman PT Usha made Mary Kom the chairman of the committee. Instructions were given to investigate by forming a committee of 7 members. The committee includes boxer Mary Kom, archer Dola Banerjee, badminton player Alaknanda Ashok, freestyle wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, Indian Weightlifting Federation President Sahdev Yadav and two lawyers. Later, on the demand of the wrestlers, BJP leader Babita Phogat was also added to it.

On the same day, in the late night meeting of Anurag Thakur with wrestlers for 7 hours, the Sports Ministry decided to form an oversight committee. MC Mary Kom was also made its president. Its members included Olympic medalist wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, Dronacharya awardee Trupti Murgunde, TOPS CEO Rajagopalan and Radha Sriman. Later Babita Phogat was also included in it.

Now read Bhaskar’s conversation with the accused wrestlers and their families…

Sonam Malik’s father said – Truth-falsehood is not known, went on strike on the message of seniors
Sitting shoulder to shoulder with the wrestlers in support, Rajendra alias Raj, father of wrestler Sonam Malik from Madina village in Sonepat district of Haryana, said that what is the point in this whole episode, what is truth and what is false. They don’t know anything. They don’t know what went wrong with which player. He said that he can say with confidence that no wrong has happened to his daughter Sonam.

Yogeshwar Dutt, a member of the inquiry committee, said – there is a strict instruction, not to say anything
Yogeshwar Dutt, the only member from Haryana in the inquiry committee, said that statements have been recorded twice in this case. In which one statement has been made in front of the IOA committee and the other statement has been made in front of the team constituted by the Union Sports Ministry. After taking sides and evidence from both the sides, the team will hand over the report to the chairman of the team.

Now read the conclusion of this whole effort…
Accusing players are shying away from talking. Even the family doesn’t know anything. They are putting everything on the players. It is clear that now this whole matter is not moving towards any action more than the hue and cry of allegations. The players definitely made allegations of molestation, but could not provide proof. In such a situation, it seems that the inquiry committee is trying to find a middle way so that the respect of the players is also maintained and the president of the wrestling association does not face any action. However, the final result will come only on the report of the inquiry committee.

The tone of the wrestlers also seems to be changing…
The tone of the wrestlers, who have been alleging delay in the report of the inquiry committee, seems to be changing. Wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was aggressively besieging the Wrestling Federation President earlier, is expressing helplessness. Vinesh said- This is a difficult time because we are not able to practice. We will wait till we win this battle. First we want to win this medal, after that we will play in some big match.

Sakshi Malik said – The committee has given time of 10 days. It is hoped that the decision comes as soon as possible and in our favor, because we have taken this step with a lot of courage. We gathered courage thinking that now the girls who are coming into wrestling, they should not have to face all this.