In a surprising turn of events, Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik has declared her retirement from wrestling, citing concerns over the recent election of Sanjay Singh, an alleged loyalist of BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, as the new President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The election has stirred controversy, with international wrestler Sangeeta Phogat expressing fears that women wrestlers may face harassment once again.
Malik, who had been a vocal critic of the previous WFI President, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, expressed disappointment at the election outcome. “We gathered a lot of courage for this fight against the WFI President (Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh). But today, his right hand (referring to Sanjay Singh) has been elected as the new WFI President. We had demanded a woman be made the president, but that has not been fulfilled,” said Malik as reported by Hindustan Times.
Sangeeta Phogat echoed Malik’s concerns, stating, “It’s unfortunate that such people are getting elected to such positions in the country. Now, girls will be harassed again. It’s sad that even after fighting against it, we couldn’t bring any changes. I don’t know how to get justice in our own country.”
Vinesh Phogat expressed apprehensions that women wrestlers might now face exploitation. The wrestlers had previously accused Brij Bhushan of harassment, leading to a prolonged protest that ended abruptly in May after the Delhi police removed them from Jantar Mantar.
Wrestlers Demand Justice & Transparency
Sanjay Singh, the newly elected President, secured 40 votes against 7 won by his rival Anita Sheoran. Singh, a close associate of Brij Bhushan, addressed the media, stating, “It’s a triumph for thousands of wrestlers in the country who suffered in the past 7-8 months. We will respond to politics with politics and wrestling with wrestling.”
The wrestlers had been advocating for justice and transparency, alleging sexual harassment by Brij Bhushan. However, wrestler Bajrang Punia expressed dissatisfaction, stating, “We were fighting for truth and women, else we were also active athletes and winning medals for the country. I don’t think the daughters will get justice because the way this system has worked, efforts are being made to break the daughters. Still, we have faith in the judiciary.”
The contentious WFI election follows a series of events that began in January with wrestlers accusing Brij Bhushan of sexual exploitation. The subsequent investigations, protests, and legal proceedings have created a complex backdrop leading up to the election.
The future of women’s wrestling in India now hangs in the balance as the controversy surrounding the WFI elections continues to unfold. The concerns raised by prominent wrestlers like Sakshi Malik and Sangeeta Phogat shed light on the challenges faced by female athletes in the country and the need for a transparent and accountable sports administration.
As the wrestling community awaits further developments, the question of justice and fair representation remains paramount, echoing the sentiments of those who fear a recurrence of harassment within the sport.
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