Former wrestler Babita added to Oversight Committee; ‘one of the names’ wrestlers wanted, says Sarita

Now the wrestlers seem to have gotten their way with the addition of Babita to the Oversight Committee. Babita was among the names the wrestlers had forwarded to the sports ministry, following a meeting post the formation of the Oversight Committee, Sarita told The Indian Express.

Babita, a former World Championship and Commonwealth Games medallist, is Bajrang’s sister-in-law and a cousin of Vinesh.

Bajrang’s wife Sangeeta, also a wrestler, is Babita’s younger sister. Babita joined the BJP in 2019 and lost the Haryana assembly elections when she contested from Dadri. She had visited the protest site at Jantar Mantar on the second day and promised to try and find a solution.

“We had submitted names when we had a meeting with the sports ministry and Babita Phogat’s name was among them. I have not spoken yet with the other members of the core group of wrestlers since Babita was added to the committee. We will discuss it soon,” Sarita said.

The wrestlers did not attend a meeting of another committee formed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), which comprises two members who are also part of the Oversight Committee — Mary Kom and Yogeshwar Dutt, the 2012 London Olympics bronze-medal winning wrestler.

Sarita also did not rule out another protest if ‘action was not taken by the Oversight Committee’ at the end of their one-month long probe into the allegations of sexual harassment and financial irregularities and mismanagement in the WFI.

“Once things get better regarding the federation, then the girl wrestlers (who were allegedly sexually harassed by Singh) can think of filing an FIR against the WFI chief if their families agree,” Sarita said.

Brij Bhushan, a BJP member of parliament, has stepped aside till the Oversight Committee completes its probe.

In a statement on Tuesday, the sports ministry said, “Former wrestler Babita Phogat has been added to the panel of the Oversight Committee formed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to undertake the day-to-day administration of the Wrestling Federation of India.

“The Oversight Committee is also doing an enquiry into the allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment and/intimidation, financial irregularities and administrative lapses of the WFI, as leveled by prominent sportspersons.”

On January 18, accusing Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment, Vinesh had said, “Women wrestlers have been sexually harassed at national camps by coaches and also the WFI president. Some of the coaches appointed at national camps have been sexually harassing women wrestlers for years. The WFI president is also involved in sexual harassment.” The wrestlers had called off their three-day protest on January 20 after a late night meeting with sports minister Thakur who announced that the Oversight Committee would be set up. But the wrestlers were unhappy when Thakur announced the names of the members.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Bajrang had said, “The women wrestlers who have faced sexual harassment are willing to talk to the Oversight Committee only if the person we suggest is added to the committee. This is a sensitive issue and they need to be confident that a fair probe will be conducted.”

Bajrang also said that during the meeting with the sports minister, the names of members of the committee were not agreed upon and the wrestlers were told to take ‘two to three days’ to discuss among themselves and suggest their nominee.

Babita is the sixth member of the Oversight Committee which also includes includes former badminton player Trupti Murgunde, Radhica Sreeman, former executive director (teams) of the Sports Authority of India and Rajesh Rajagopalan, the former-CEO of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme.

Talking about the wrestlers’ protest, Sarita said, “It has been a mental battle for all of us but we were ready for the long haul. Our parents as well as partners are supporting us in the fight and that’s what is keeping us motivated too.”