Anita Sheoran, former Commonwealth Games gold medallist, was defeated by Sanjay Singh, a close aide of BJP MP and former President of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, in the elections held on December 21, 2023 at the Indian Olympic Association headquarters in New Delhi.
Sanjay Singh’s triumph as the WFI President with 40 out of 47 votes left the Indian wrestlers in dismay. Let’s know why.
The Story Till Now
The protests against the then-chief of the WFI, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, started in January 2023 accusing him of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation across 10 years, from 2012 to 2022.
Sakshi Malik, the first Indian woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal; Bajrang Punia, Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist, and Vinesh Phogat, a gold medallist winner at the Asian and Commonwealth Games, led the protest against the police’s inability to file a FIR against the then-WFI boss.
The wrestlers had ended their protests on June 7, after Anurag Thakur, the Sports Minister of India, gave assurances that no family members or close associates of Brij Bhushan would be allowed to participate in the WFI elections.
“It’s unfortunate that government did not stand by its word that no Brij Bhushan loyalist will contest WFI election,” said Bajrang Punia, highlighting the minister’s unkept promise.
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Who Is Sanjay Singh?
Sanjay Singh is from Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh.
“My father, Nand Lal Singh used to organise wrestling bouts in our village. So I was interested in wrestling since childhood. I started my journey with local tournaments,” he told The Quint about how he got into wrestling.
Having joined WFI twelve years ago, he has been the joint secretary since 2019.
“My relationship with him is like the one between an elder and a younger brother,” said Sanjay Singh on his relationship with Brij Bhushan.
The Indian Wrestlers Left In Dismay
Sakshi Malik has announced her retirement from wrestling. “We fought from our heart but if a man like Brij Bhushan, his business partner and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, I give up wrestling,” she said.
“We wanted a female president but that did not happen,” she added. A teary-eyed Sakshi hung-up her boots, saying she has lost in the battle for justice for fellow women wrestlers.
https://twitter.com/SatyapalmalikG/status/1737841424379605453?t=6Q1vtZmrJS5PlxsVGwi7Yg&s=08
“Upcoming women wrestlers will also face exploitation,” added Vinesh Phogat at the Press Conference in Delhi’s Press Club.
On Friday, December 22, Bajrang Punia wrote a letter to PM Narendra Modi, returning his Padma Shri award, in protest of the election of Sanjay Singh as WFI President. “I am returning my Padmashree award to the Prime Minister. This is just my letter to say. This is my statement,” he said in a statement he posted on X.
Later that evening, he headed to the PM’s residence to return the prestigious award. However, he was stopped by Delhi Police upon reaching the Kartavya Path near the PM’s residence. In an act of protest, he left the Padma Shri on the footpath outside the premises.
“I will give the Padma Shri award to anyone who will take it,” he said to Delhi Police.
#WATCH | Wrestler Bajrang Punia left his Padma Shri medal on the pavement near Delhi's Kartavya Path after being stopped by Delhi Police officials while he was on his way to return his Padma Shri award to PM Modi. #PMModi #BajrangPunia #PadmaShri #KartavyaPath #WrestlersProtest… pic.twitter.com/0i5Vuea3YT
— ABP LIVE (@abplive) December 22, 2023
The Reaction Of The Winning Committee:
“Whoever wants a message, here it is – dabdaba tha, dabdaba rahega!,” said Brij Bhushan after the panel backed by him emerged victorious in the WFI elections.
“They (new body) will control wrestling, if they want to take suggestions I am open to give,” he added, signalling the continuation of his leadership.
“Wrestlers who want to do politics can do politics, those who want to do wrestling will do wrestling,” said Sanjay Singh. It is also expected that the new body might change a few policy decisions that the ad-hoc panel had taken.
The wrestling community now grapples not only with the implications of the election but also with the departure of a celebrated athlete, signalling a challenging chapter for the future of Indian wrestling.
Image Credits: Google Images
Feature image designed by Saudamini Seth
Sources: Business Standard, The Quint, Deccan Herald
Find the blogger: Unusha Ahmad
This post is tagged under: Brij Bhushan, Sanjay Singh, WFI, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Wrestling Federation of India, WFI elections, Anita Sheoran, PT Usha, wrestling, Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games
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