Sakshi Malik objects to Sanjay Singh’s election as WFI chief, says mother getting threatening calls

Rio Olympics bronze medalist Sakshi Malik said that she would have no issues with the newly-elected Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) provided its president Sanjay Singh, a loyalist of former president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, is kept out. Sakshi had announced her retirement on December 21 during a tearful press conference after the election results.

Sanjay Singh had defeated former CWG gold medalist Anita Sheoran 40 votes to 7. Anita had the backing of wrestlers, including Sakshi, who had protested demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan after six women wrestlers had complained about sexual harassment.

“We don’t have any issues with the new federation except for one man, Sanjay Singh. We don’t have any issue if the new body comes back without Sanjay Singh. We do not have any issue with the ad-hoc committee as well,” Sakshi told reporters.

Brij Bhushan was found liable for prosecution for sexual harassment, molestation and stalking of women wrestlers in the chargesheet of Delhi Police.

Sanjay Singh’s first decision as newly-elected WFI president was to announce that the Under-15 and Under-20 nationals will take place in Nandini Nagar, Gonda, the pocket burrough of the former chief.

The sports ministry suspended the WFI and an ad-hoc committee is running the day-to-day affairs of the WFI.

“The government is like parents for us and I would request them to make wrestling safe for the upcoming wrestlers. You have seen how Sanjay Singh has been behaving. Sanjay Singh should not be allowed to interfere in the federation,” she added.

Sakshi said that if the sports ministry can ensure that Sanjay Singh is not part of the WFI, then there won’t be abuse of power.

“I can only make a request. If the ministry says he won’t come back it will be better. Everybody saw the kind of power abuse by Brij Bhushan after the WFI elections. He announced junior nationals at his home without consulting others.”

Sakshi also requested the ad-hoc panel to conduct age group nationals at the earliest.

“I don’t want any young wrestler to suffer because of us. The ad-hoc committee has already announced senior nationals and I request the ad-hoc committee to announce the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-20 nationals.”

Family being threatened

Sakshi also said that her mother had received threatening calls from people connected to Brij Bhushan.

“For the past two-three days, Brij Bhushan’s goons have become active. My mother is getting threats via phone calls. People are calling and saying that a case will be registered against someone in my family.”

She also requested those using social media to abuse her and other wrestlers, who were part of the protest not to do so.

Sanjay Singh claimed that they neither recognise the suspension of their newly-elected body by Sports Ministry nor the ad-hoc panel. (PTI)

“People on social media are abusing us but they should remember that they have sisters and daughters at their home.”

Asked if she would consider becoming an officer bearer of the WFI, Sakshi said: “”I am disturbed. We just want that junior wrestlers to not suffer. As of now I don’t have it in my mind. We are being blamed for junior wrestlers’ loss and that’s incorrect.

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U15, U20 c’ships

The ad-hoc panel, managing wrestling affairs in the country, on Wednesday announced the organisation of the Under-15 and Under-20 National championships within six weeks, hours after junior wrestlers held a protest at Jantar Mantar and demanded dissolution of the IOA-constituted committee. The panel “acknowledged the concerns” of the young wrestlers who have been hit hard by the year-long protests by top India grapplers. Neither the National camps nor the junior nationals have been held since January 2023. Hundreds of junior wrestlers lost one full year due to the stalemate.

Bhupender Singh Bajwa, chairman of the three-member panel, assured the junior wrestlers that he would soon organise the sub junior and junior Nationals in Gwalior. Hundreds of junior wrestlers assembled at Jantar Mantar for a symbolic three-hour protest against the loss of one crucial year of their careers, a situation for which they blamed top grapplers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat, who had protested against WFI president Brij Bhushan. PTI

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