In a surprising turn of events, Sanjay Singh, a long-time aide of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, has been elected as the new president of WFI. The election, held today, saw Sanjay Singh securing 40 out of 47 votes, succeeding Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who held the position for 12 years.
The election outcome, however, has not been without controversy and discontent, particularly from top wrestlers such as Sakshee Malikkh, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia. The athletes expressed disappointment over the results, with Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik making a dramatic announcement of her decision to quit the sport.
The backdrop of this development is rooted in serious allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Earlier this year, prominent wrestlers, including Ms. Malikkh, accused Singh of sexual harassment, leading to a massive protest at Jantar Mantar. The government ordered a probe, assuring the wrestlers that no aide or relative of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh would be allowed to contest the next WFI polls.
Despite these assurances, Sanjay Singh’s victory has raised concerns among the athletes, with Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anita Sheoran, their preferred candidate, receiving only seven votes in the election.
During an emotional interaction with the media, Vinesh Phogat expressed fears about the future of women wrestlers, stating, “Now that Sanjay Singh has been elected chief of the federation, women wrestlers will continue to face harassment.” She questioned the ability to find justice in the country and lamented the uncertainty surrounding their wrestling careers.
Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang Punia echoed these sentiments, expressing disappointment that the government’s promises were not fulfilled. He emphasized that their fight was for truth and justice, not political affiliations.
Sakshee Malikkh, advocating for a woman chief for the wrestling body, expressed her dismay over the outcome. “We fought, but if the new president is Brij Bhushan’s aide, his business partner, then I quit wrestling,” she declared, symbolically putting her boots on the table.
In response to the athletes’ concerns, newly elected president Sanjay Singh defended his victory, stating that the allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh were baseless and asserting that there would be no injustice against any woman wrestler under his leadership.
Former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh credited the victory to the wrestlers of the country and expressed hope that wrestling events would resume smoothly under the new federation.
The WFI election process, which began in July, faced delays due to court cases, leading to the international wrestling body suspending WFI. However, with the recent Supreme Court decision lifting the stay imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the path was cleared for the much-anticipated polls.
As the wrestling community grapples with this controversial change in leadership, the future of WFI and the athletes it represents hangs in the balance.
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