Indian wrestler Sakshee Malikkh, who recently quit the sport in an emotional rant against Brij Bhushan Singh has hit out against women’s junior national championships being held in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh. Mailkkh took to Twitter to reveal details about distressed calls from junior wrestlers who told her that the competition was going to be held in Brij Bhushan Singh’s stronghold – Gonda.
“I have given up wrestling but I am worried since last night. What should I do about those junior women wrestlers who are calling me and telling me that the junior nationals are going to be held from 28th and the new wrestling federation has decided to hold it in Nandani Nagar Gonda,” Sakshee wrote in her post on Twitter.
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“Gonda is the area of Brij Bhushan. Now imagine in what environment the junior women wrestlers will go there to wrestle. Is there no place in this country to play nationals anywhere other than Nandani Nagar? I don’t know what to do,” she further added.
Earlier, in an emotional press conference in New Delhi after Sanjay Singh was elected as the new WFI president, Sakshee Malik quit the sport, saying she wouldn’t continue wrestling if Brij Bhushan’s close aides continued to wield power in the federation.
The Rio Olympics medalist was unable to hold back her tears as she left her pair of shoes on the table, signaling the end of her decorated career.
“The moment Brij Bhushan’s business partner won the elections, I can’t give the guarantee that even one of the women wrestlers would get justice. They have regained the power. They will threaten the ones who came forward to give the case, there are a few wrestlers who have been falsely accused of doping,” Sakshee said.
“They are reaching out, they are looking for those wrestlers. Wrestlers from humble family, how much can they fight? If a woman had become president, I assure you many more wrestlers would have come forward,” she had further added.
Several wrestlers came out in protest months ago against Brij Bhushan Singh and the Wrestling Federation of India. Top wrestlers in the country, Bajrang Punia, Sakshee Malik and Vinesh Phogat were the face of th protest where the wrestlers alleged harassment against several members in WFI. While Brij Bhushan was sacked, his close aide was announced as the new president after fresh elections were held.
