The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) remains in the middle of a storm despite fresh polls was held to elect office bearers. Newly elected president Sanjay Singh won the election comfortably, dominating his rival candidate -- Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anita Sheoran. Singh, a close ally of Brij Bhushan Saran Singh, thumped Sheoran 40-7.
Why election?
WFI’s former president and the Bharatiya Janatha Party MP Brij Bhushan Saran Singh was alleged to have sexually tormented female wrestlers including those from the junior category. One of the complaints loaded by the athletes was under POCSO (The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012), for assaulting a minor. Brij Bhushan Singh was then forced to step down from the president's chair.
Who is Sanjay Singh?
Singh, who is known as ‘Bablu’ in the close circles of the wrestling community, was largely involved in the local wrestling competitions along with his father Nand Lal Singh. Sanjay Singh's wife Archana Singh opined that he would prove to be "true to the responsibility" he has been given. Singh is a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh it is certain that he would seek advice from Brij Bhushan while making key decisions.
Sanjay Singh, currently serving as the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Federation’s Vice President, is a Brij Bhushan loyalist. Before coming to the presidency, he was serving as the joint secretary of the national federation.
His connection with Brij Bhushan started when the UP wrestling association was formed in 2009, with Brij Bhushan as the state president and Sanjay Singh as its vice president. According to the BBC, their families have been connected for the past three decades.
After the election, Singh was “Wrestlers who want to compete, they should wrestle. Those who want to do politics should do politics. It’s a triumph for thousands of wrestlers in the country who suffered in the past seven-eight months.”
Singh might be opposed as the demand for the new president was not to be associates of Brij Bhushan. "It's unfortunate that such people are getting elected to such positions in the country. Now, girls will be harassed again... I don't know how to get justice in our own country," Sangeeta Phogat said.
Sanjay Singh and the Minister's unkept promise
Ahead of the elections, Tokyo Games bronze medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik had requested Sports Minister Anurag Thakur to stop anyone associated with Brij Bhushan from contesting the WFI polls.
Consequently, neither Brij Bhushan's son Prateek nor son-in-law Vishal Singh entered the fray.
"It's unfortunate that the government did not stand by its word that no Brij Bhushan loyalist will contest WFI election," Bajrang said, adding that he is also not sure if he wants to continue his career.
"Upcoming women wrestlers will also face exploitation," feared Vinesh.
After effects
The three main wrestlers protesting, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat were shocked by the results. His election also prompted the Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik to quit her wrestling career and Bajarang Punia to return his Padma Shri award. The United World Wrestling (UWW), the global wrestling body which had suspended the Indian wrestling federation in August for the delay in holding the elections, is yet to comment on the development.
Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia, meanwhile, reached the Kartavya Path in New Delhi on Friday to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hand over a protest letter but kept the Padma Shri medallion on a footpath there being blocked by the policemen.
