Sakshi Malik Quit wrestling,X flooded with tweet war
In a dramatic turn of events today, Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik, in an emotional press conference in Delhi, declared her retirement from wrestling. This decision comes as a protest against the election of a “loyalist” of BJP parliamentarian Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused of sexual harassment, as the new president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
With Sakshi ,Male and Female top wrestlers had staged protests at Jantar Mantar
Earlier this year, both male and female top wrestlers had staged protests at Jantar Mantar, accusing Brij Bhushan, the then WFI chief, of sexual harassment against women wrestlers. Despite the serious allegations, Sanjay Singh, a known associate of Brij Bhushan, secured victory in Thursday’s elections, with his panel winning 13 out of 15 posts.
Sakshi Malik placed her wrestling shoes on the table and announced her retirement
In an emotional moment during the press conference, Sakshi Malik placed her wrestling shoes on the table and announced her retirement, expressing disappointment at the election results. The 31-year-old wrestler emphasized the collective effort made by the athletes during the protests and acknowledged the support received from the people of the country.
“We fought this battle from our heart. In the end, we slept for 40 days on the roads but I would like to thank the people of our country who came to support us during the protests earlier this year,” said Sakshi Malik.
The wrestlers, including Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia and Women’s World Championships medallist Vinesh Phogat, had repeatedly urged Sports Minister Anurag Thakur not to allow anyone associated with Brij Bhushan to contest the WFI elections. Bajrang Punia expressed disappointment, stating, “It is unfortunate that the government did not stand by its word that no Brij Bhushan loyalist would contest the WFI polls.”
Sakshi & Six adult women wrestlers Put Allegations against Brij Bhushan
The serious allegations against Brij Bhushan, including demands for “sexual favors” in exchange for professional assistance, led to the filing of FIRs against him. Six adult women wrestlers accused him of inappropriate touching, intimidation, and stalking.
Sakshi Malik’s retirement serves as a poignant statement against what the athletes perceive as a failure of the system to address concerns related to sexual harassment within the sports federation.
The wrestling community and sports enthusiasts now await further developments and responses from the concerned authorities regarding the allegations and the impact of Sakshi Malik’s retirement on Indian wrestling.
Athletes were dragged away from their protest site in a move that has sparked outrage and raised questions
In a startling incident on May 28, Delhi police, reporting to the Union home ministry, faced severe criticism as they reportedly roughed up and forcibly removed the country’s top wrestlers from their Jantar Mantar protest site. The incident unfolded even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was inaugurating the new Parliament building.
The top wrestlers, who were staging a protest against the then-WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused of sexual harassment, were met with force by the Delhi police. The athletes were dragged away from their protest site in a move that has sparked outrage and raised questions about the handling of dissenting voices during a high-profile event.
This incident adds a new layer of controversy to the ongoing wrestling federation saga, where allegations of sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan have already stirred tensions within the wrestling community. The rough handling of the athletes by the Delhi police, an authority under the Union home ministry, has brought the role of law enforcement and the government’s response to the forefront.
Critics argue that such actions undermine the democratic right to peaceful protest and highlight concerns about the safety and freedom of expression for athletes. The juxtaposition of this incident with the Prime Minister’s inauguration of the new Parliament building intensifies the scrutiny on how dissent and grievances within the sporting community are being addressed.
As the wrestling community grapples with these developments, the broader public awaits responses from authorities regarding the alleged use of force against the protesting athletes and the potential impact on the larger discourse surrounding the WFI and the treatment of sexual harassment allegations within the sports federation.
Sakshi has tweeted in her Social Media Platform -X About her disappointment .
बृजभूषण सिंह के करीबी संजय सिंह ने कुश्ती संघ के अध्यक्ष का चुनाव जीता pic.twitter.com/FY59vuQ3SD
— Ranvijay Singh (@ranvijaylive) December 21, 2023
Dhruv Rathi slaso posted in his wall .
Very sad day for Indian Sports!
— Dhruv Rathee (@dhruv_rathee) December 21, 2023
Another user written in response to Dhruv Rathi :
She is 31. Not performing anywhere close to what other younger Indian athletes are doing. People even asked KL Rahul to retire at 28. Sit down.
— Pratik V (@ResearchMonk) December 21, 2023