Sexual harassment is a pervasive problem in India, affecting women across all walks of life, including female wrestlers. In recent years, there have been several cases of sexual harassment reported within the wrestling community, leading to calls for action from wrestlers themselves.
What is Sexual Harassment?
Sexual harassment refers to any unwanted or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or any other form of sexual conduct that creates a hostile or offensive environment. This can include verbal, physical, or visual harassment, and can occur in any setting, including the workplace, schools, and sporting events.
Sexual Harassment in the Wrestling Community
The issue of sexual harassment in the wrestling community came to the forefront in 2018 when a female wrestler accused her coach of sexual misconduct. The wrestler claimed that the coach had been harassing her for several months, and had even attempted to rape her on one occasion. The coach was eventually arrested and charged with sexual assault.
Since then, several other cases of sexual harassment have been reported within the wrestling community, including allegations against other coaches and senior wrestlers. These incidents have led to widespread outrage and demands for action from the wrestling community.
Indian Wrestlers Demand Action
In response to the growing problem of sexual harassment within the wrestling community, several Indian wrestlers have come forward to demand action. In July 2021, a group of female wrestlers staged a protest outside the office of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) in New Delhi, calling for stricter measures to be put in place to prevent sexual harassment.
The protest was led by national-level wrestler and Arjuna awardee, Vinesh Phogat, who has been vocal about the issue of sexual harassment in the past. Phogat and other wrestlers demanded that the WFI take concrete steps to address the issue, including the formation of a committee to investigate complaints of sexual harassment, and the implementation of mandatory training for all coaches and wrestlers on sexual harassment prevention.
The Response from the Wrestling Federation of India
The Wrestling Federation of India has responded to the demands of the wrestlers by setting up a committee to investigate complaints of sexual harassment. The committee will be headed by a female wrestler and will include other senior wrestlers and officials from the wrestling community.
In addition, the WFI has also announced that it will be conducting workshops and training sessions for all wrestlers and coaches on the prevention of sexual harassment. The WFI has stated that it takes the issue of sexual harassment very seriously and is committed to creating a safe and harassment-free environment for all wrestlers.
The Way Forward
The steps taken by the Wrestling Federation of India are a positive development, but there is still a long way to go in addressing the issue of sexual harassment within the wrestling community. It is important for wrestlers, coaches, and officials to continue to speak out and demand action, and for the WFI to remain committed to creating a safe and harassment-free environment for all wrestlers.
It is also important for society as a whole to take a stand against sexual harassment and to create a culture that does not tolerate such behavior. By working together, we can create a more equal and just society for all.
