In a shocking move, the sports ministry decided to suspend the newly elected WFI body after the new president of the Wrestling Federation of India Sanjay Singh, a Brij Bhushan Singh loyalist, announced that the U-15 and U-20 Nationals would take place in Gonda, a Brij Bhushan stronghold.
The decision comes amid famed grappler and Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik opting to retire from wrestling after Sanjay Singh’s election to the position of the federation chief.
However, after the landmark decision, Sakshi opined that the language around the suspension was rather termed in a loose manner and wasn’t concrete.
“I have not seen anything in writing yet,” the 31-year-old said.
“I don’t know whether only Sanjay Singh has been suspended or the entire body has been suspended,” the wrestler added.
The Rhotak-born wrestler, who has been at the forefront of the WFI row that has been ongoing since the beginning of the year emphasised that the grapplers’ fight wasn’t against the government, but rather an attempt to support the women wrestlers in the nation.
“Our fight was not with the government. Our fight is for women wrestlers,” the Commonwealth Games gold medallist reiterated.
Malik announced a tearful retirement from the sport following the results of the WFI polls, which came out in favour of the Brij Bhushan loyalist, the same year the nation was rocked by the volatile row between the former WFI Chief Brij Bhushan and some of the nation’s top wrestlers.
“I have announced my retirement but want the upcoming wrestlers should get justice,” she beamed.
Sakshi spoke about her concern for the young wrestlers following the announcement of the venue for the U-15 and U-20 Nationals as she was disgruntled by the fact that the event was being held at Brij Bhushan’s stronghold, stating that she had also received calls from young grapplers which caused her a lot of worry given everything that has transpired.
Fellow Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia also returned his Padma Shri award.
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