Top Indian Wrestler, Sakshi Malik, Retires After Federation Elects New President
In response to the Indian wrestling federation replacing its president—accused of sexually assaulting female athletes—with his close associate, Sakshi Malik, the sole Indian woman wrestler to ever attain an Olympic medal, has stated her intention to quit from the sport.
A news conference was held in New Delhi on Thursday by Sakshi Malik, who stated that it had required a great deal of "courage" to oppose Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, 66, a prominent and contentious politician belonging to the country's ruling party and a former head of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
“We fought with all we had,” she stated, shortly after the new president had been revealed.
Symbolically hanging up her shoes, 31-year-old Malik put her footwear in front of her while fighting back tears.
“Upcoming female wrestlers will also face exploitation,” she warned. “If (Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s) business partner and a close aide is elected as the new president, I quit wrestling.”
Malik, who won bronze in the women’s freestyle 58 kilos at the 2016 Rio Olympics, was among numerous elite wrestlers who in January supported requests for an inquiry when claims came to light against Singh of sexual harassment of younger athletes.
Singh faced assault, stalking, and sexual harassment charges from the Delhi police in June. He has not been arrested and has refuted all charges.
Speaking to CNN on Friday, Singh’s lawyer Rajiv Mohan, said: “We are denying these charges as a whole. It is not possible that these alleged offenses took place over the years, in the presence of brothers, husbands and friends, and no one would say anything. Why would a lady keep silent for so long – that is, for three to four years?”
Malik and a number of other prominent wrestlers staged a weeklong demonstration in Delhi earlier this year, camping out in protest of what they claimed was abuse at the hands of Singh.
On Thursday, a panel of voters at the WFI selected Sanjay Singh, a close assistant but not related to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, as its new chief, reigniting the scandal that has plagued the athletic body for much of this year.
Sanjay Singh faced off against Commonwealth Games gold medal winning female wrestler Anita Sheoran in 2010. She was a prominent critic of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and spoke of her intention to bring reforms in the wrestling federation.
Sanjay Singh claimed his victory was a “triumph” for the wrestlers “who suffered in the past seven to eight months.”
“Wrestlers who want to compete should wrestle. Those who want to do politics, should do politics,” he said, according to local media reports.
Protests by the wrestlers have sparked accusations of officials obstructing the administration's ability to carry out justice, drawing criticism from rights activists and opposition parties.
Among those leading the protests alongside Malik was another female Olympian Vinesh Phogat, whose rise to prominence in the male-dominated sport has brought delight and pride to millions.