Risako Kawai, the reigning two-time Olympic gold medalist, has sent her message of support to India’s wrestlers who are protesting against the President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). There have been multiple FIRs filed with the Delhi Police, alleging sexual exploitation and harassment of women’s wrestlers by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
After BBC News India posted a tweet video about the Indian wrestlers’ ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, which included the interviews of Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia, the Japanese wrestler quoted it on her Twitter account with a caption in her native language, which read (in English), “I hope it will be an environment where Indian athletes can practice with peace of mind.”
As per reports, Risako Kawai, the three-time World champion, is the first wrestler on the international circuit to support India’s protesting wrestlers in their quest for justice against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Recently, the former Jammu and Kashmir governor, Satyapal Malik, joined in on the protest at Jantar Mantar. Rakesh Tikait, the national spokesperson of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), a farmer’s body, had also reached Delhi to meet with the protesting wrestlers to back them against the WFI President.
Out of the two FIRs registered against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh by the Delhi Police, the one is based on the complaints made by a minor wrestler under the Prevention of Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The other one is related to the comprehensive investigation into the complaints by other complainants under relevant sections pertaining to outraging of modesty.