New Delhi: Sanjay Singh, the recently elected president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), commented on Sakshi Malik's decision to retire from wrestling, stating that an athlete's retirement is a personal choice, refraining from delving into the matter further.
This response came after Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik, a prominent figure in the wrestlers' protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations, announced her retirement shortly following Sanjay Singh's election as the new WFI chief, succeeding Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Sanjay Singh, speaking to the media, emphasised that his association with former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh doesn't warrant scrutiny, dismissing the notion of being a "dummy candidate" due to their closeness, reported ANI.
"Those who are athletes have already started preparing and those who want to engage in politics can do that. It is their personal matter, I will not speak about this...I have been in the federation for 12 years. Just because I am close to MP (Brij Bhushan Singh) does not mean I am a dummy candidate. Is it a crime if I am close to him?" Sanjay stated, addressing the media.
Meanwhile, former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh announced plans for hosting Under-15 and Under-20 wrestling events from December 28th to 31st. He highlighted the necessity of conducting these tournaments due to a prolonged pause in national and state-level wrestling events for 11 months, emphasising the impact on wrestlers' careers if not addressed promptly.
Sakshi Malik's emotional retirement announcement at a press conference in the national capital led to her tearfully leaving the venue. During the interaction, she placed her wrestling shoes on the table, symbolising her decision to retire from the sport.
"We protested for 40 days on the streets, receiving support from people across the nation. If Brij Bhushan Singh's close associate becomes the WFI president, I will quit wrestling," Sakshi expressed, joined by other wrestlers involved in the protest.
Subsequently, India's prominent wrestler Bajrang Punia declared his return of the Padma Shri award, citing the election of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's aide as the WFI president as the reason behind this decision. Punia articulated his sentiments in a detailed post on X, conveying his stance through the letter addressed to the Prime Minister.