Wrestlers vs Federation: WFI chief to 'expose conspiracy' at press meet, amid sexual harassment charges

After days of protests by star wrestlers in the national capital, President of the Wrestling Federation of India called a press conference on 20 January 2023.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is also a BJP MP, said he would address the media at 4 pm at a wrestling training centre in Nawabganj, Uttar Pradesh. He has been accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers.

In a Facebook post, Singh said that he will expose a "political conspiracy" being hatched against the sport of wrestling. He added that he would expose those "playing with the honour of women wrestlers".

Singh's declaration came a day after protesting wrestlers met Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur. They refused to back down from their demand that the government immediately disband the Wrestling Federation of India.

The marathon meeting began around 10 pm on 19 January, the second day of the wrestlers' protest against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The wrestlers left Thakur's house at 1:45 am and did not speak to the reporters waiting outside.

Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia, Ravi Dahiya, Sakshi Malik and world championship medallist Vinesh Phogat were part of the meeting.

(With PTI inputs)