New Delhi, 3 May: Wrestling Federation of India president Sanjay Singh on Thursday issued a personal guarantee on the safety of wrestler Vinesh Phogat, firmly rejecting demands to shift the venue of the National Open Ranking Tournament scheduled for 12-14 May in Gonda. The assurance came hours after Phogat, a Commonwealth and Asian Games medallist, publicly disclosed that she is one of six women wrestlers who filed formal sexual harassment complaints against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Singh's Response on Safety and Fairness

"If Vinesh is worried about her safety, let me assure her that I am taking personal guarantee of that. Also, we have UWW-approved referees who officiate and all trial bouts are recorded, so there is no chance of any bias," Singh said in a statement. He argued against venue changes, pointing out that approximately 1,500 wrestlers have already registered and arranged travel and accommodation without raising safety objections. "Why should WFI inconvenience all participating wrestlers by shifting the tournament at the last minute?" he asked.

Phogat Breaks Silence on Harassment Case

Vinesh Phogat came forward in a video statement, breaking her silence on the pending sexual harassment case despite Supreme Court guidelines that protect victim anonymity. She revealed that she is among six women wrestlers whose testimonies are still ongoing in court. "Three years ago, we raised our voices against sexual harassment. I did not want to speak while the case is still pending, but I want to tell you all today: I myself am one of those six victims who filed a complaint," she stated.

Concerns Over Tournament Integrity

Phogat raised serious questions about the fairness of holding the ranking tournament in Gonda, described as a stronghold of Brij Bhushan. She alleged that the venue choice compromises competition integrity. "Every hardworking athlete will get their due there—this is something very unlikely and almost impossible. Who will referee whose match, how many points a referee will give... all of this will be controlled by Brij Bhushan and his people," she alleged in the video. She also expressed doubt over the transparency of weigh-in procedures and result accuracy, questioning whether wrestlers' efforts would be fairly reflected on the mat.

The Broader Context

The dispute underscores ongoing tensions within Indian wrestling following the 2023 sexual harassment allegations against Brij Bhushan, which triggered a nationwide protest by wrestlers including Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia. While Brij Bhushan was arrested and later granted bail, the case remains sub-judice. Phogat's decision to publicly identify herself as a victim, despite ongoing court proceedings, marks a significant escalation in the public discourse around the harassment allegations and governance concerns within the federation.

Road Ahead

The tournament is slated to proceed as scheduled unless the Sports Ministry or courts intervene. WFI has not indicated any change to the Gonda venue, and Singh's statement suggests the federation is committed to holding the event despite Phogat's public concerns about fairness and safety.