New Delhi: Rio Olympics bronze-medallist Sakshi Malik on Thursday announced that she was quitting wrestling.
In an emotional address to the press, Sakshi expressed her disappointment over Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh loyalist Sanjay Singh getting elected as the new Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president.
Singh easily beat former Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Anita Sheoran by 40 votes to 7 in Thursday’s much-awaited WFI elections.
Sakshi and other wrestlers, who had protested for months against sexual harassment-accused Brij Bhushan, backed Anita to be WFI’s first female president.
Sakshi said promises made to the wrestlers by Union Sports Ministry of not allowing family and close aides of Brij Bhushan were not fulfilled. She pointed out that Singh, who had served as vice-president of Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Federation, was the right-hand man of Brij Bhushan.
Sakshee, who addressed the press along with Tokyo Olympics medallist Bajrang Punia, broke down uncontrollably. She thanked the public and media for their support during the protest against Brij Bhushan.
“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,” she wrote on social media platform X, and posted a video of her media interaction at the Press Club of India.
मैंने देश के लिए जितने भी पुरस्कार जीते हैं आप सब के आशीर्वाद से जीते हैं , मैं आप सभी देशवाशियों की हमेशा आभारी रहुंगी। 🇮🇳
कुश्ती को अलविदा ।🙏 pic.twitter.com/yyO4lG59rL— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) December 21, 2023
Asked about Sakshi’s decision to retire, Brij Bhushan kept mum.
“I have nothing to do with this,” the former WFI chief said.
The likes of Sakshi, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia were demanding Brij Bhushan’s arrest during their long protest over allegations of sexual harassment against seven wrestlers, including a minor.
The wrestlers called off their over-five months’ protest in June after a chargesheet was filed against Brij Bhushan. Among complaints against him were attempts at inappropriate touching, putting his hand over girls’ chest, moving his hand from chest to the back and chasing them.
