Babita Phogat joins oversight committee amid wrestling controversy

Babita Phogat, a gold medalist in wrestling at the Commonwealth Games, has joined the investigation team set up to look into the accusations made against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) head Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

The oversight committee, established by the Sports Ministry, is looking into claims of sexual misconduct, harassment, and intimidation as well as financial and administrative issues involving the WFI and its leader.

Prominent grapplers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Ravi Dahiya made the accusations.

The Oversight Committee established by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to handle the day-to-day management of the Wrestling Federation of India has appointed former wrestler Babita Phogat to its panel, the ministry said in a statement.

Babita is the sixth member of the oversight group, which also comprises former wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, former shuttler Trupti Murgunde, previous Olympic podium scheme CEO Rajesh Rajagopalan, and famed boxer MC Mary Kom.

Anurag Thakur, the sports minister, had earlier this month announced the creation of the committee to look into the accusations against the WFI president and oversee the day-to-day operations of the sports organization.

The athletes called off their protest after receiving promises from the government, which put a stop to the conflict between the agitated grapplers and the WFI.

Bajrang, Vinesh, Sarita Mor, and Sakshi, who staged a three-day sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar calling for the WFI president's dismissal, had also expressed unhappiness that they had not been contacted prior to the committee's establishment.