New Delhi: Wrestler Sakshi Malik on Thursday broke down after Brij Bhushan's close aide was elected as the new President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
Sanjay Kumar Singh, a close associate of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, was elected the new president of the WFI earlier today.
Sakshi Malik announced her retirement from wrestling, saying she won't compete under the presidency of Brij Bhushan loyalist.
Addressing a press conference, she 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..."
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat said that the future of wrestling is in the dark and upcoming women wrestlers will also face exploitation.
"There are minimal expectations but we hope that we get justice. It's saddening that the future of wrestling is in the dark. To whom shall we convey our grief?... We are still fighting," she said.
Bajrang Punia expressed his disappointment with the Centre, saying that it's unfortunate that the government did not stand by its word that no Brij Bhushan loyalist will contest the WFI election.
"We were fighting for truth and women, else we were also active athletes and winning medals for the country. I don't think the daughters will get justice because the way this system has worked, efforts are being made to break the daughters. Still, we have faith on the judiciary."
What Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh Said?
Reacting to wrestler Sakshi Malik's statement to quit wrestling, former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said that he has nothing to do with this. "I have nothing to do with this," he told the reporters.
Several top Olympians across the country, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia, among others, accused Singh of sexual harassment against several women wrestlers.