New Delhi: Amid the ongoing probe into the allegations of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik said that they might have been late for the fight but they are waiting for the committee, that has given 10 days to come up with the results of the investigation, news agency ANI reported.
“We're definitely late for this fight and we regret also because it was with powerful people but now we are standing strong. It's a tough time for us, we are not able to play. We trust the committee and waiting for justice,” ANI quoted Vinesh Phogat as saying.
“We are waiting for results to come in our favour because we're fighting after lot of courage. Committee has given 10 more days for result. We're fighting as we don't want this to repeat with any other young female wrestlers,” wrestler Sakhshi Malik said.
The committee, led by legendary boxer MC Mary Kom, was set up on January 23 to investigate into the accusations made by country’s top wrestlers that WFI boss Brij Bhushan had sexually harassed several women wrestlers, intimidated the athletes and has been running the sport body in an autocratic manner.
Meanwhile, Brij Bhushan, who appeared before the committee on Tuesday, outrightly rejected all the charges levelled against him.
“Brij Bhushan appeared before the committee today. He straightaway denied all the allegations. He said he never did anything wrong,” a sports ministry source told news agency PTI.
Notably, the allegations were levelled by prominent grapplers such as Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Ravi Dahiya. They have already deposed before the committee.
Earlier in January, the country’s top wrestlers had staged a three-day sit-in protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, demanding that Brij Bhushan be removed and WFI be disbanded.