NEW DELHI: India must confront widespread sexual abuse in sports to enhance its prospects of hosting global tournaments like the Olympics, a rights group said on Tuesday in the wake of the country’s wrestling scandal involving prominent figures.
According to a damning report by the Sport and Rights Alliance, the Wrestling Federation of India, under former chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a lawmaker from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was embroiled in a sexual abuse scandal. The report called for comprehensive investigations into all allegations.
“India’s national sport governing bodies have failed to protect female athletes from sexual abuse and have not responded adequately to reports of abuse,” the report stated unequivocally. “To strengthen their bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympics, the Indian government must prioritize ensuring the safety of athletes.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics last October.
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, 67, faces charges of sexually harassing and stalking women wrestlers. His trial is currently underway amidst significant public outcry and protests from India’s top Olympic wrestlers and their supporters over the past year.
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The Sport and Rights Alliance report includes testimonies from notable athletes such as world champion Vinesh Phogat and Olympic bronze medalist Sakshi Malik, along with others who chose to remain anonymous.
One 20-year-old wrestler, speaking anonymously, recounted her experience, alleging that Singh “forcefully hugged me without my consent” after she won a medal at an international competition. She further claimed that Singh later attempted to coerce “sexual favours” from her in exchange for nutritional supplements, leaving her mentally distraught and unable to perform optimally in subsequent competitions due to the trauma.
Vinesh Phogat, currently preparing for the Paris Olympics commencing this week, expressed dismay over how Indian society often trivializes incidents of abuse and harassment until they reach extreme levels.
“They only take it seriously when the assault is severe,” Phogat remarked. “But abuse is abuse, whether minor or severe. It affects us deeply.”
The report’s findings underscore a broader cultural challenge within Indian sports, highlighting systemic issues that need urgent redressal to safeguard athletes and restore public confidence in sporting institutions.
