New Delhi: Sakshi Malik, a bronze medallist at the Rio Olympics, talked about her wrestling career and the difficulties faced by women in a male-dominated sport. She spoke about an instance in 2012 when she was harassed by Brij Bhushan Singh, the Wrestling Federation of India's (WFI) then-president.
Reflecting on that period, she explained that speaking out could have cost her career, so she prioritised continuing her training and competing internationally, even though the environment was extremely challenging.
"I wanted to write a book for a long time, especially after the Olympics. I wanted my story to be told. I wanted it to inspire and inform many girls because of my struggles. I wanted everyone to know. After the protests, I decided this, and after a few days, I started hearing things about seniors. People said things like, 'This is the man,' and 'He's like that.' In 2012, I had an accident when then-president Brij Bhushan Singh harassed me. I knew that this was wrong and I said straightforward no to it, I have also told the story in my book, that time was really difficult for me," Sakshi told IANS.
"If I had raised my voice at that time, I wouldn’t be sitting here as an Olympic medalist today. My career would have ended right there. So, I thought it was better to stay quiet and continue without paying attention to that. After my husband's situation, it was difficult. The next 3-4 years were tough because training among those same people, competing in trials, and then going for international competitions was challenging," she added.
Sakshi decided to take a stand because she didn’t want future generations of female wrestlers to go through the same hardships. She expressed pride in the battles she fought and noted that, over time, some changes did occur, including the removal of certain individuals in power. However, the fight for reform is ongoing, and she remains committed to the cause.
"It was all very difficult, and that’s why I decided that I needed to fight for this. The things I faced, the struggles I went through, I didn’t want the next generation of girls to face them. A lot of girls get scared and are unable to continue playing. That’s why I decided to take a stand. I did well in my fights too."
The turning point came in January 2023 when Sakshi, along with fellow wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, led a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The protest called for the resignation of Brij Bhushan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment and corruption. The wrestlers also demanded a complete overhaul of the WFI, emphasising the need for a safer and more supportive environment for athletes.
While the protest led to some significant changes, including the removal of certain individuals from power, Sakshi acknowledged that the fight for reform was far from over. She pointed out that the government’s support has fallen short and that meaningful change won’t happen as long as influential figures like Sanjay Singh remain in power, emphasising the ongoing need for a better wrestling federation.
"The protest that we led was never against Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), it was all against Brij Bhushan Singh, who is the main accused. Yes, PM Modi supported us, but we want to highlight more issues to him, so those who are saying that the protest was targeted for personal benefit they should read my book first.
Decisions have started coming in our favour, and certain people were removed but still, the full recognition of our expectations hasn’t been given. It's happening, and we'll continue to fight. We keep talking about having a better federation. As long as someone like Sanjay Singh is in power, things won't change."
With inputs from IANS