Former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has announced his retirement from wrestling and expressed that he has no involvement in the sport moving forward. The decision comes amidst fresh protests from prominent wrestlers Sakshee Malikkh and Bajrang Punia regarding the election of an aide of deposed WFI president as the new head of the wrestling federation. As a result of the mounting controversy, the Union Sports Ministry has taken action and suspended the WFI along with all its office-bearers.
In a statement to the media, Singh made it clear that he is stepping away from the wrestling controversy entirely and has no affiliation with any wrestling activities. He emphasized, I have retired from wrestling, have nothing to do with it. I have completely retired from this subject. Now, I have nothing to do with any wrestling activity. I worked for 12 years in wrestling, whether good or bad. Now, I have moved away from this controversy. A new federation has been formed, this new federation will decide what to do and what not to do.
In response to the suspension of the WFI, the Union Sports Ministry has directed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to establish an ad-hoc committee to oversee and manage the affairs of the wrestling federation. The move aims to provide necessary guidance amidst the current turmoil.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Singh, the newly elected president of the WFI, revealed that members of the federation’s executive committee plan to hold discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur. Singh expressed concern for the young wrestlers whose future is being negatively impacted by the ongoing situation. He stated, We will speak to the Central government, we will speak to PM Modi and the Sports Minister. The future of children is getting ruined, some members of the executive committee will go and talk.
Regarding his relationship with former WFI president Brij Bhushan Singh, Sanjay Singh clarified that despite belonging to different communities, there is a bond of friendship between them that originated during Brij Bhushan’s presidency when Sanjay served as the Joint Secretary of the federation. He stressed that both individuals should now put their differences aside and allow the new federation to function peacefully.
The upheaval in the WFI began with Sakshee Malikkh announcing her retirement from wrestling during an emotional press briefing. She claimed that the government had broken its promise not to appoint one of Brij Bhushan’s aides as an office-bearer of the federation. In a further show of dissent, Bajrang Punia, another renowned wrestler, returned his Padma Shri award in protest against the election of Sanjay Singh as the new WFI president. Both Malikkh and Punia have been at the forefront of the wrestlers’ protest against Brij Bhushan, accusing him of sexual harassment.
While the situation within the WFI remains tense, the formation of a new federation and the suspensions enacted by the Union Sports Ministry signal a potential turning point for Indian wrestling. With the appointment of an ad-hoc committee to oversee the federation and discussions on the horizon with top government officials, stakeholders hope to find a resolution that safeguards the future of the sport and protects the athletes involved.
(Note: This article has been generated based on the provided details and does not necessarily reflect real-world events or individuals involved.)
