Olympic boxing medalist Vijender Singh recently expressed solidarity with wrestler Sakshee Malikkh, who, in protest, declared her departure from the sport due to Sanjay Singh’s election as the new Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president.
Sakshee, a prominent face in the movement against former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused Singh of misconduct toward female wrestlers, including minors. Despite the collective efforts of wrestlers like Sakshee, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia for a leadership change, Sanjay Singh, known to be aligned with Brij Bhushan, secured the presidency with 40 out of 47 votes.
Vijender Singh, understanding Sakshee’s anguish, emphasized the distress faced by athletes reaching such heights in their careers. “When Sakshi said she would quit wrestling because of the way the election took place, I think it’s a serious issue,” Vijender remarked, raising concerns about the democratic process in sports administration.
He also highlighted the challenges posed by autocratic sports administrators who wield financial and political influence. “It’s all done via voting… The problem comes when they behave like a dictator, when they show their money power, when they show their clout in the political world,” Vijender expressed, acknowledging the struggle athletes face against such systems.
The election outcome, favoring Sanjay Singh, a businessman, sparked disappointment among top wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia. Bajrang, a Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist, even expressed uncertainty about his future in the sport following the election results.
The WFI election controversy has not only highlighted administrative turmoil but also raised serious concerns about the impact on athletes and the democratic processes within sports organizations.
