'I quit': Sakshi Malik announces retirement from wrestling after Brij Bhushan's aide named WFI chief
PTC News Desk: Olympic medallist and ace wrestler Sakshi Malik announced that she is quitting the sport after Sanjay Singh was elected as Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief on Thursday. "We fought," the Olympic bronze medalist said, putting her boots on the table. "But if the new president is Brij Bhushan's aide, his business partner, then I quit wrestling," she added.
Sanjay Singh is the close aide of former WFI president and a six-time BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh - Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is facing allegations of sexual harassment by multiple women wrestlers.
Sanjay Singh received 40 out of 47 votes in today's elections. Commonwealth Games gold medalist Anita Sheoran received only seven votes as the protesting wrestlers' choice for WFI president.
Sakshi Malik along with ace wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia expressed disappointment with the results.
Commonwealth and Asian Games gold medalist Vinesh Phogat broke down in tears during a media appearance, saying, "Now that Sanjay Singh has been elected chief of the federation, women wrestlers will continue to face harassment." Phogat further said that she has "no clue how to find justice in the country". "The future of our wrestling career is in the dark. We do not know where to go."
Punia, an Olympic bronze medalist, expressed regret that the "government's promise to us was not kept." "We are not affiliated with any political party, and we have not come here for political reasons. We were fighting for truth, but today an aide to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh became WFI president," he said.
Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik met Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur earlier this month at his residence in the national capital to discuss the WFI elections.
Satyawart Kadian, Sakshi's husband and a wrestler himself, was also among those who approached the minister. The wrestlers told reporters after the meeting that they were assured that the government would keep its promise that no one related to or close to Brij Bhushan would be appointed to the WFI.
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