In a surprise escalation in her long-running battle with the wrestling establishment, Olympian Vinesh Phogat has claimed she is one of six wrestlers who were sexually harassed by former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
The confession, made in a moving video address, is the first time the trailblazing wrestler has publicly identified herself as a victim in the criminal case currently before the courts. Vinesh said she felt compelled to break her anonymity because of “certain circumstances” — specifically what she describes as a coordinated attempt by the current Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to sabotaged her comeback before the 2026 Asian Games.
Legal the case against Brij Bhushan remains pending in courtwith testimonies currently underway. Vinesh explained that she originally intended to let the trial run without revealing her identity.
“Supreme Court guidelines say that no victim’s identity should be revealed as it concerns their dignity and honour,” Vinesh said in a video shared on social media on Sunday, May 3.
“But today, due to certain circumstances, I want to tell you all something. I didn’t want to speak until the case was resolved… But I want to say that I myself am one of the six victims who filed a complaint, and our testimony is still ongoing.”
Vinesh was one of the main faces of the major protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi in 2023 against Brij Bhushan.
“It is very difficult for a woman to compete in such a situation, and every athlete who has been through such a situation can identify with it,” she added.
EXAMINATIONS IN GONDA?
The catalyst for Vinesh’s revelation is the WFI’s decision to hold scoring tournaments and trials in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh – Brij Bhushan’s personal stronghold. Vinesh claimed that the trials are organized in a private college owned by the former boss, making it impossible to have a fair competition.
“He has his own private college and this competition is held there. That every hard-working athlete will find his way there – that is something very improbable and almost impossible,” she said.
Vinesh further claimed that despite the official removal of Brij Bhushan, the federation remains under his thumb through current boss Sanjay Singh.
“Who will decide whose match, how many points will the umpire award… all this will be managed by Brij Bhushan and his people. And the government and our sports ministry will watch as silent spectators.”
After an An 18-month hiatus following the bereavement of the 2024 Paris OlympicsVinesh worked his way back to the mat. However, she expressed serious doubts about whether she can perform under the mental and physical shadow of her alleged harasser.
“You can imagine – to go to him, to his own college, where every person would be connected to him … to go there and compete in such a situation is extremely difficult. Even after I can go there and give 100 percent – I don’t think so.”
As Vinesh Phogat continues his training for the Asian Games, her revelations put renewed pressure on India’s sports ministry to address the sport’s security and administrative integrity.
WHY DID THE WRESTLERS PROTEST?
The cases against Singh first made global headlines in 2023. The top athletes led months of protests in New Delhi at Jantar Mantar, which took a dramatic turn when police detained them. during a march to the new Indian Parliament building. Footage of Olympic medalists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, along with Vinesh, being dragged through the streets sparked international condemnation, including a rare rebuke from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
While the movement led to formal charges, the legal path was complicated. Singh, a former MP from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was cleared in a separate sexual harassment case filed by a minor female wrestler. A Delhi court accepted the police report recommending the cancellation of this particular case after the complainant allegedly withdrew her statement last year.
However, Singh – who has consistently denied all allegations – still faces serious allegations of sexual harassment and stalking in an ongoing case involving Vinesh and five other adult female wrestlers.
– The end
Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
May 3, 2026 1:16 PM IST
