New Delhi, January 03: Sakshi Malik raised concerns about her mother receiving threatening calls allegedly orchestrated by individuals affiliated with former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Following her retirement announcement after Sanjay Singh, a close aide of Brij Bhushan, became the federation’s president, Malik voiced worries about her family’s safety, emphasizing the government’s responsibility for their security.
A dramatic turn unfolded amidst the WFI turmoil, as a protest emerged at Jantar Mantar against Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Vinesh Phogat. Junior wrestlers from various regions gathered, demanding intervention from the United World Wrestling (UWW) to rescue wrestling from these three athletes. Allegations against Brij Bhushan regarding sexual harassment have made these wrestlers the focal point of the protest.
Malik, addressing the controversy, expressed her intention for junior wrestlers to surpass her achievements and urged them to excel without facing adversity due to her actions. She clarified that their discord was solely with Sanjay Singh, not the new federation or the ad-hoc committee.
In response to Malik’s retirement announcement, Bajrang Punia symbolically placed his Padma Shri on the pavement, while Vinesh Phogat laid her Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards on the street in a renunciation of these honors.
Expressing mental and physical exhaustion over the past year, Malik revealed her uncertainty about the future amidst the WFI election dynamics, particularly concerning Sanjay Singh’s presidency. The WFI’s suspension by the sports ministry prompted the formation of an ad-hoc committee by the Indian Olympic Association to oversee federation affairs temporarily.
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President of the suspended WFI, Sanjay Singh, dismissed the legitimacy of the ad-hoc committee, asserting their intent to conduct the national championships independently. He challenged the ad-hoc panel’s authority, indicating plans to organize the Nationals despite potential objections from state associations.
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The suspended WFI affirmed adherence to regulations and aimed to organize the Nationals independently, reflecting a deepening schism within India’s wrestling administrative sphere.
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