Vinesh Phogat
| Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap
World Championships medallist Vinesh Phogat on April 12 accused the Wrestling Federation of India president Sanjay Singh of trying to cease her from competing within the Olympic Qualifiers by creating logistical hurdles for her assist employees, saying she can also be fearful of being trapped in a doping case.
The 29-year-old Phogat, who received 53kg bronze medals within the 2019 and 2022 World Championships apart from a gold within the 2018 Asian Games (in 50kg), could be eyeing an Olympic quota within the 50kg class within the Asian qualifying match subsequent week in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
At the choice trials in Patiala, she had additionally competed within the 53kg class after the authorities allowed her however misplaced within the semifinals.
“Brij Bhushan and his dummy Sanjay Singh are trying in every way to stop me from playing in the Olympics. All the coaches who have been appointed with the team are the favourites of Brij Bhushan and his team, so it cannot be denied that they may mix something in my water and make me drink it during my match?” Phogat mentioned in prolonged submit on his ‘X’ web page.
“If I say that there could be a conspiracy to trap me in doping, then it will not be wrong.”
Ms. Phogat alleged that her private coach and physio have been being denied accreditation for the Asian Olympic qualifying match beginning April 19.
“For the past one month, I have been requesting the Government of India (SAI, TOPS) for the accreditation of my coach and physio. Without accreditation, it is not possible for my coach and physio to accompany me to the competition arena,” she mentioned.
“But despite repeated requests, I am not getting any concrete answer from anywhere. No one is ready to help. Will the future of players always be played with like this?
“No stone is being left unturned to mentally harass us. How far is it justified to torture us like this earlier than such an essential competitors?” she asked.
Ms. Phogat was one of the three top wrestlers of the country who led a protracted protest against former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexually harassing women wrestlers.
After a case was filed against Brij Bhushan by Delhi Police, a local court granted him bail in July.
She wondered if the difficulties she is facing now are due to the protest she led alongside Olympic bronze medal winners Bjarnag Punia and Sakshi Malik.
“Will we face politics even earlier than we go to play for the nation as a result of we raised our voice towards sexual harassment? Is this the punishment for elevating voice towards mistaken in our nation? “I hope we will get justice before we go to play for the country.”
