Olympian Sakshi Malik Quits Wrestling as Former WFI Chief – Brij Bhushan Singh’s close aide, Sanjay Singh, becomes next WFI Chief
Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik announced her retirement from wrestling and broke down on live television on December 21, 2023, shortly after an aide of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) boss Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was elected to the body’s top post
“We slept for 40 days on the roads and many people from several parts of the country came to support us… Suppose Brij Bhushan Singh’s business partner and a close aide is elected the president of WFI. In that case, I quit wrestling…,” a teary-eyed Malik, 31, the first Indian woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal, said at a press conference in New Delhi. She was followed by fellow wrestlers who launched a protest campaign against Brij Bhushan earlier this year. The former chief was accused of sexual exploitation and intimidation due to which the protesting wrestlers wanted a female chairman to sit on the throne of WFI.
The contest for the president’s post took place between Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association vice-president Sanjay Singh and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anita Sheoran. Sanjay Singh one-sidedly won the contest by winning 13 out of 15 seats.
‘WE DEMANDED A FEMALE PRESIDENT’
Malik said protesting wrestlers have demanded for a woman to be made WFI president. “If the president would be a woman, harassment would not happen. But, there was no participation of women earlier and today you can see the list, not even a single woman was given a position. We had fought with complete strength but this fight will continue. The wrestlers of the new generation have to fight.”
In June, the wrestlers ended their over five-month protest after a chargesheet was filed against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief. The complaints against Singh included allegations of inappropriate touching, placing his hand over the chest of girls, moving his hand from the chest to the back, and chasing them.
Brij Bhushan’s Statement –
On Malik’s announcement, former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said, “I have nothing to do with this…”
FUTURE OF WRESTLING IS IN THE DARK: PROTESTING WRESTLERS
Another star wrestler, Bajrang Punia, said there could be attempts to save Brij Bhushan from court cases. “…but I have faith in our courts and hope he will be punished by law.”
“Union sports minister had said on record that no one associated with Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will be allowed to fight the election. The person who won the elections of WFI is an aide of Brij Bhushan. I suspect that they will now save him from the case as well but I have faith in our courts and hope he will be punished by law.”
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat said there are very less expectations but we hope that we get justice. “It’s saddening that the future of wrestling is in the dark. To whom shall we convey our grief?… We are still fighting.”
