"The whole sports industry is disappointed”: Olympian Vijender Singh extends his support to Sakshi Malik over WFI President’s appointment

Vijender Singh, the first Indian boxer to secure an Olympic medal, has extended his support to Sakshi Malik in her protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's associate, Sanjay Singh, recently assumed the top position following WFI elections, prompting Olympic gold medalist Sakshi Malik to announce her decision to retire from the sport.

"Being a player, I can understand her pain. The only female medallist in wrestling demanded justice but she did not get it. Pained by this, she retired. The image of India in the whole world would increase or decrease?" said Vijender Singh. He further stated that after this, parents of girls would have to think before sending their daughters to the stadium. "The whole sports industry is disappointed. They blame that there is discrimination between boys and girls in Haryana and there are fewer girls. After this, would the parents send their daughters to the stadium?" he added. The Olympic medalist asserted that the Prime Minister, Vice President, and President should be answerable for this issue.

Anita Sheoran, the Commonwealth Games gold medalist who was supported by the protesting wrestlers for the WFI president position, secured only seven votes. Wrestlers such as Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, expressed their dissatisfaction with the election outcome. During a conversation with reporters on Thursday, Vinesh Phogat, a Commonwealth and Asian Games gold medalist, broke into tears and stated, "With Sanjay Singh elected as the federation chief, female wrestlers will continue to face harassment." Phogat also expressed uncertainty about finding justice in the country.

Sanjay Singh assumed the position of the new President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Thursday, securing a victory with 40 votes compared to the 7 obtained by his competitor, Anita Sheoran. Known for his close affiliation with Bhushan, Singh expressed that his win was a triumph for the numerous wrestlers across the country who endured challenges in the past 7-8 months. Addressing reporters, Sanjay Singh stated, "We will respond to politics with politics and wrestling with wrestling."

"If Brij Bhushan Singh's business partner and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, I quit wrestling said Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik, announcing her retirement from wrestling on Thursday, following the appointment of Sanjay Singh, an alleged aide of BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, as the president of the Wrestling Federation of India.

In January of this year, the wrestlers had staged a demonstration at Jantar Mantar, alleging sexual harassment by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh towards numerous wrestlers and urged for action to be taken. The protest was concluded after the government initiated an investigation. Additionally, the wrestlers received assurances that no associate or family member of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh would be permitted to participate in the upcoming elections of the wrestling organization.​