Sakshi Malik, the Indian wrestler, has recently shared a video on her X handle claiming that she is being threatened. She has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and protect the future of wrestling in India. In her video, Malik expressed her concerns about the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), stating that despite a court order, the WFI continues to oversee the sport’s operations. She revealed that she has been threatened with serious charges of corruption, which has added to her distress.

“Respected Prime Minister and Sports Minister, I greet you. Last year, after the Wrestling Federation elections, everyone witnessed Brij Bhushan Singh’s dominance and bullying, which deeply troubled me and forced me to step away from wrestling. Following this, the government suspended the federation. However, the federation resumed its activities,” Malik said.

She further explained, “The court questioned how the federation could continue its work after the government had imposed a ban. The High Court put a stay on it, but the WFI did not comply with any orders. When the court reprimanded them again, the federation put the young athletes forward. I understand the difficult position these young athletes are in; their careers depend on the federation. Prime Minister, if you believe the future of these girls is safe under the federation dominated by Brij Bhushan, then you should lift the suspension. Otherwise, a permanent solution needs to be found.”

Malik’s heartfelt plea highlights the ongoing issues within the Wrestling Federation of India and the need for immediate government intervention to ensure a safe and fair environment for athletes.

In 2023, wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat were part of the protest against Brij Bhushan who was accused of sexual harassment of female wrestlers.

Taking a dig at Sakshi Malik, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Babita Phogat alleged that she had sold her integrity to sell her book. The counter-statement has been made in response to Sakshi Malik’s claim that Babita gathered all the wrestlers to protest against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) with an aim to take over the position of President. “Shine with your own character. How long will the borrowed light last? Some got assembly seats, some got posts sister, and you did not get anything, I can understand your pain. In order to sell the book, she sold her integrity,” Babita Phogat wrote on X.

Earlier, on Tuesday, newly elected Congress MLA from Julana and Olympian Vinesh Phogat also responded to Sakshi Malik’s recent comment about her and Bajrang Punia being influenced by certain individuals. Vinesh stated that her sole greed was to get justice for the female wrestlers who had been allegedly abused.

In her newly released book ‘Witness’, Sakshi Malik said that people close to wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia had started filling their minds with greed.

Bajrang Punia, who was also one of the three main wrestlers during the wrestler’s protest, alongside Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik said that it is Phogat’s personal view.

Reacting to the statement, Bajrang Punia, “It’s her personal view. She was our friend, and she will continue to be so. I can’t say anything about what she has said.”

Notably, both Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia joined the Congress before the Haryana Assembly elections. Phogat was given a ticket from the Julana constituency while Punia was made head of the party’s national farmers unit.

Vinesh Phogat won the Julana Assembly seat in Haryana, defeating Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Yogesh Kumar. The former wrestler secured a victory with a margin of 5,761 votes.

Vinesh Phogat responded to allegations from Sakshi Malik that the protest against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh developed cracks when “people close to”  Vinesh began to fill her mind with “greed”. Sakshi also alleged that Vinesh and Bajrang Punia’s decision to accept exemption from Asian Games trails also tarnished the image of the protests. However, Vinesh dismissed any such speculations and said that they fought for a good cause before adding that if speaking up for athletes is “greed”, then she will continue to have such “greed”.

“No one gave me anything in writing, nor can I assume someone’s intentions. The good thing is that we fought for a good cause. If playing in the Olympics and winning a medal for our country is greed, then yes, I will carry that ‘greed’ till my last breath. What exactly is greed? If, as an athlete, speaking up for fellow athletes and standing by my sisters is greed, then I consider it a good kind of greed. The desire to play for the country should always remain,” Phogat told ANI.

Sakshi, who was one of the three prominent faces of the prolonged protest, made this statement in her recently-released book ‘Witness’. 

“The old way of thinking selfishly was taking over once again. The people close to Bajrang and Vinesh had started filling their minds with greed. Now they were talking about this exemption from trials for the Games,” Sakshi wrote in the book co-authored with journalist Jonathan Selvaraj but did not give names of those who influenced the duo.

“…Nothing good came of Bajrang and Vinesh’s decision to take the exemption…their decision badly hurt the image of our protest. It put us in a situation where many supporters started to think that we were actually in the protest for selfish reasons,” the 32-year-old said.

(With PTI inputs)

Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik have claimed that the Delhi Police has revoked the security cover of female wrestlers set to testify in the sexual harassment case against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Vinesh and Sakshi on ‘X’, tagged the Delhi Police, the Delhi Commission for Women, and the National Commission for Women, raising concerns about the safety of the women wrestlers who are key witnesses in the case and wrote, “Delhi Police has withdrawn the security of the women wrestlers who are going to testify against Brij Bhushan in the court.”

@DelhiPolice @DCWDelhi @NCWIndia

— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) August 22, 2024

Vinesh, who recently returned from the Paris Olympics, had said that her fight against the WFI would continue and hoped that “truth will prevail”.

The case dates back to January 2023 when wrestlers including Vinesh, Sakshi and Bajrang Punia began protesting at Jantar Mantar, accusing Brij Bhushan of sexual exploitation and intimidation. The wrestlers demanded his resignation and sought the dissolution of the WFI.

Their complaint to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha led to the formation of an inquiry committee comprising notable figures such as Mary Kom and Yogeshwar Dutt. Despite these actions, the WFI denied all allegations against its president and coaches.

Subsequently, the Sports Ministry intervened, suspending all WFI activities and sidelining assistant secretary Vinod Tomar.

The legal battle escalated in May 2024, when a Delhi court formally framed charges against Brij Bhushan and Vinod Tomar. Both denied the charges, leading to a trial.

The court, in a May 10 order, found sufficient evidence to proceed with the charges of sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of five female wrestlers against the former WFI chief.

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat who arrived in the national capital to a rousing reception at the Delhi Airport on Saturday said that she is “grateful” for receiving such love and respect from people. Vinesh was accompanied by Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda for a roadshow after her arrival in Delhi today. Speaking to ANI, Vinesh said, “I am grateful for this love and respect I have received from my countrymen.”

Bajrang Punia said that Vinesh has been welcomed like a champion. He also thanked people for showing support. “She (Vinesh Phogat) is being welcomed like a champion. The country saw Vinesh’s journey from the streets to the podium. We thank all the countrymen,” Bajrang told ANI.

Sakshi Malik said that Vinesh has done a lot for the women and the nation and hoped that people would continue to respect Vinesh.

“Today is a big day. What Vinesh has done for all the women and the nation is commendable. I just hope the people will continue to respect her… for us, she is an Olympic champion,” Sakshi said.

The Haryana-born wrestler turned emotional and broke down into tears during the reception at the airport today.

In Paris, Vinesh had became the first Indian woman wrestler to make the final of an Olympics. She was however, disqualified from the 50 kg gold medal bout after she was found to be 100 gms overweight. On Wednesday the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed her petition to be awarded a joint silver. She announced her retirement from wrestling on August 8, a day after her disqualification.

A huge crowd gathered at the Delhi Airport to welcome the 29-year-old. Fans showered flower petals upon her arrival in the national capital.

On August 8, Vinesh penned an emotional to announce her decision to retire from wrestling. “Maa kushti (wrestling) won against me, I lost. Forgive me, your dream and my courage have been broken. I don’t have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024. I will always be indebted to you all for forgiveness,” Phogat said in her post.

Wrestling has been a go-to game for India at Olympics in the past 16 years. The sport has produced medals for the nation in every edition of the Games since 2008. In the last five editions of Olympics wrestling has given India seven medals. Sushil Kumar (bronze in 2008 and silver in 2012), Yogeshwar Dutt (bronze in 2012), Sakshi Malik (bronze in 2016), Ravi Kumar Dahiya (silver in 2021), Bajrang Punia (bronze in 2021) and Aman Sehrawat (bronze in 2024) are the names who have earned the accolades for the country at the sports biggest extravaganza.

It is interesting to note that all the athletes named above, excluding Sakshi, are the products of Chhatrasal – a venue that has been the breeding ground for Indian wrestling talents.

It was in 1988 when former India wrestler Satpal Singh with other coaches Ramphal Mann, a.k.a. Guru Ramphal, and Pradeep Sharma started the akhada on the premises of Chhatrasal Stadium, stated Times Of India in a report.

Satpal himself shone at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games with multiple medals, but he failed to finish at the podium at Olympics in his two appearances in 1972 and 1980. The Games medal void in his illustrious career was something that propelled Satpal to start the Chhatrasal Akhada.

“Ek mann mein tees thi (there was a pain in my heart of not winning an Olympic medal). That’s why I started the akhada at the Chhatrasal Stadium. I wanted to churn out Olympic medallists for the country,” Satpal told TOI. “Now we have produced not one, but six Olympic medallists.”

Just four years after starting the akhada, Satpal realised the need of mat besides the specially designed dirt floors, which are much famous in Indian wrestling.

Fast forward to 2024, the akhada has all the modern equipments and facilities that are required for wrestlers to become world champions. After locking a bronze medal for himself in Paris Olympics, Aman carried forward Chhatarsal’s rich legacy.