In a recent turn of events, Olympic medallist Sakshee Malikkh has expressed her disappointment regarding the selection of the venue for the junior wrestling nationals in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda. Gonda is notably the stronghold of the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Malikkh, along with several other prominent wrestlers, has accused Brij Bhushan of engaging in sexual exploitation of women wrestlers.
Brij Bhushan resigned as the WFI chief amidst protests, leading to fresh elections within the federation last week. Surprisingly, the elections were won by Sanjay Singh, a known confidante of BJP MP Brij Bhushan. Despite the change in leadership, the indirect influence of Brij Bhushan over the national federation remained evident.
Upon the announcement of the election results, Sakshee Malikkh, visibly emotional, declared her retirement from wrestling. Following suit, Bajrang Punia, an Olympic bronze medallist, made a strong statement by deciding to return his Padma Shri to the government in protest.
Expressing her concerns, Malikkh revealed that she has been receiving calls from junior wrestlers who are apprehensive about the choice of venue for the junior nationals.
"Though I have decided to step away from wrestling, my worry has persisted since last night. I'm troubled by the calls from junior women wrestlers, informing me that the junior nationals are scheduled from the 28th, and the new wrestling federation has chosen Nandani Nagar Gonda as the venue," she shared on X (formerly Twitter).
Highlighting the issue, Malikkh emphasized, "Gonda is the territory of Brij Bhushan. Now, envision the situation where junior women wrestlers will have to compete there. Is there no other suitable location in this country to host Nationals, apart from Nandani Nagar? I am perplexed about what steps to take."
The controversy surrounding the wrestling federation has brought to light a series of concerns and discontent among the athletes, indicating a need for transparency, fairness, and ethical conduct within the sports governance framework. As the wrestling community grapples with these issues, the spotlight is now on the decision-makers to address the grievances and rebuild trust within the wrestling fraternity.