Olympic Medallist Sakshi Malik Announces Retirement in Tears
Olympic wrestling medallist Sakshi Malik announced her retirement after Sanjay Singh became the new President of the Wrestling Federation of India on 21st December 2023.
Indian professional freestyle wrestler Sakshi Malik announced her retirement from wrestling in an emotional address to the media on 21st December 2023. Sakshi Malik had won a bronze medal in the Rio Olympics in 2016 and made India proud. Her decision to quit wrestling came soon after the announcement of Sanjay Singh becoming the new President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Sanjay Singh who served as the vice-president of the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Federation, is the business partner & a close friend of Brij Bhushan Singh. Therefore, she announced that she won't compete under the Presidency of a Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh loyalist. Brij Bhushan Singh is a BJP MP and was accused of of sexual harassment of seven wrestlers, including a minor. India’s top wrestlers protested against Brij Bhushan Singh and demanded his immediate resignation.
The wrestlers demanded a female president to ensure women safety. They backed wrestler Anita Sheoran for the WFI Presidency election. Sanjay Singh became the WFI president after defeating Anita Sheoran by 40 votes to 7 in New Delhi on 21st December 2023. Sakshi Malik claimed that the promises made to the wrestlers by the Sports Ministry about not allowing family and close aides of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was accused of sexual harassment, were not fulfilled. She said “We have made demands for a woman President. If the president was a woman, harassment would not happen. But, there was no participation of women earlier and today you can see the list, not even a single woman was given a position. We had fought with complete strength but this fight will continue. The wrestlers of the new generation have to fight.” During her media address with other wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi couldn't control her tears and broke down. She thanked the public and the media for their support in the wrestlers’ protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Sakshi said “We slept for 40 days on the roads and a lot of people from several parts of the country came to support us. If Brij Bhushan Singh's business partner and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, I quit wrestling.” Sakshi then picked her wrestling shoes and kept them on the table as a gesture to her decision to quit. Sakshi left the press conference crying. When asked to comment on the whole situation, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said “I have nothing to do with this…" Later, she announced the same on ‘X’ (Twitter) too and wrote “Whatever awards I have won for the country, I have won with your blessings, I will always be grateful to all you countrymen. Goodbye to wrestling.”
