While Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and the newly appointed WFI President Sanjay Singh were celebrating their win against the opposition, all of their happiness was set aside by the Sports Ministry which suspended Sanjay Singh along with the whole elected body effective immediately.
With the wrestlers unhappy with the decision of electing Brij Bhushan’s aid Sanjay Singh as the new WFI president, Commonwealth Gold medalist Sakshi Malik had decided to quit wrestling while Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia decided to give up his Padma Shri award if the decision stands.
Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik were among the wrestlers who sat in protest at Jantar Mantar against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh as he was accused of sexual harassment. The protest saw the Delhi Police register a case against him as well. Wrestlers wanted him to be removed from his post as many of the wrestlers complained that Brij Bhushan was sexually exploiting many female wrestlers.
संजय सिंह समेत निर्वाचित टीम निलंबित
◆ खेल मंत्रालय का WFI पर बड़ा फैसला#WFI | #SanjaySingh | Sanjay Singh | WFI pic.twitter.com/7ZukT9APbj
— News24 (@news24tvchannel) December 24, 2023
The first time the wrestlers had sat down in protest back in January and later resumed the protest in April which saw the wrestlers deciding to take their medals and submerge them into the Ganga river.
However, before the wrestlers could give away their medals, Rakesh Tikait came and stopped them. This time too, despite several attempts, the government did not relent; ultimately the wrestlers had to end the strike.
The news of the suspension was the first time that the wrestler’s demands were being met so quickly.
संजय सिंह समेत निर्वाचित टीम निलंबित
◆ खेल मंत्रालय का WFI पर बड़ा फैसला#WFI | #SanjaySingh | Sanjay Singh | WFI pic.twitter.com/7ZukT9APbj
— News24 (@news24tvchannel) December 24, 2023
Brij Bhushan Speaks After Suspension
After hearing the suspension Brij Bhushan Sharan spoke in an interview and said “The elections were held in a democratic way on the direction of the Supreme Court and the body was formed…Now it’s their (federation members) decision if they wish to talk to the govt or take the legal course of action. I have nothing to do with this.
Sanjay Singh is not my relative. The announcement to hold U-15 and U-20 nationals in Nandini Nagar was to ensure sports events should resume as soon as possible. I have worked 12 years for the wrestlers. Time will tell if I have done justice. Now decisions and talks with the govt will be done by the elected people of the federation.”
Sanjay Singh and the entire elected board was suspended after they announced plans to organize national competitions for under-15 and under-20 categories in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh. According to the WFI rules, a minimum of 15 days prior notice should be given for the athletes to have time ahead of their respective events.
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