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'We're Ready': Protesting Indian Wrestlers Accept Federation Chief's Challenge

© AP Photo / Manish SwarupBajrang Punia, Indian wrestler who won a Bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, second left, participates with other wrestlers in a protest against Wrestling Federation of India President Brijbhushan Sharan Singh and other officials in New Delhi, India, Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.
Bajrang Punia, Indian wrestler who won a Bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, second left, participates with other wrestlers in a protest against Wrestling Federation of India President Brijbhushan Sharan Singh and other officials in New Delhi, India, Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. - Sputnik India, 1920, 22.05.2023
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At least seven of India's top wrestlers, including Olympic and World Championship medalists, have been demonstrating against the federation chief in central Delhi since 23 April.
Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia on Monday accepted the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's challenge to undergo a narco test if he wants them to over sexual harassment allegations.
On Sunday, Singh stated that he would undergo a narco test, a polygraph, or lie detector test, if Phogat and Punia first underwent a similar procedure.
"I would like to tell Brij Bhushan that not only Vinesh, all the girls who have given the complaint, are ready to undergo the Narco test. It should be done live so that the entire country knows about his cruelty to the daughters of the country," Phogat said at a press conference in New Delhi.
On the other hand, Punia informed the media at the protest site - Jantar Mantar, that they had agreed to a narco test in the past too.
But the 2020 Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist added that their tests should be monitored by the Supreme Court and broadcast live on national TV.
"He (Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh) asked only for two of us to take the Narco test. All seven complainants will also take the test. We are ready," Punia said.
  Delhi, view from Jamma Masjid - Sputnik India, 1920, 07.05.2023
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A day earlier, Singh demanded both Phogat and Punia take a narco test alongside him.
He elaborated that if the two agreed and called the press to announce that they are willing to take up his dare, "I promise them that I am also ready for this".
The allegations against Singh first surfaced in January when the grapplers began their sit-in protest in Delhi, accusing the sports body boss of sexually abusing wrestlers at training camps and during tournaments and demanding he be sacked from his post immediately.
At the time, the Indian Sports Ministry intervened and formed a panel to investigate the accusations, so the wrestlers called off their protest after getting assurances from Sports Minister Anurag Thakur.
However, because the committee's report wasn't made public, the wrestlers went back to their sit-in demonstration, urging the government to take action against him.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court took up the matter following a plea by the wrestlers, leading to the registration of two FIRs against Singh.
Also, the police booked Singh under the stringent POCSO act, in which no bail is given to the accused. The POCSO Act deals with child sexual abuse in India. A minor girl has leveled accusations of sexual assault against Singh.
Despite the registration of FIRs against him, Singh hasn't been arrested by law enforcement agencies. Thus, the grapplers have refused to call off their protests until he is arrested.
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