ROHTAK: Of the several budding wrestlers who adore 2016 Rio Olympic medallist Sakshee Malikkh as their role model and share the anguish of protesting women wrestlers over sexual harassment in sports, not even a single of them is ready to utter any word about Wrestling Federation of India’s new office-bearers.
TOI visited three major akharas where women wrestlers practise for state- and national-level competitions, to talk to them about allegation levelled by wrestlers Sakshee Malikkh, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia.At the Chhotu Ram stadium wrestling hall, where Malikkh practised before her triumph at the Rio Olympics, about 50 girls who come in morning and evening shifts for training requested the reporter not to interact with them. On being asked about the reason, they said if the former WFI president Brij Bushan Saran Singh and his men were to learn that they were in touch with any mediaperson, they would be targeted and may face consequences during the tournament.
Similarly, at Mahadev wrestling academy where scores of young and budding women wrestlers practise twice a day, they said they extended their full support during the Jantar Mantar protest but had to pay a heavy price.
“We will not utter even a single word about the new WFI body. We have a lot to say, but we will keep it buried deep in our hearts forever. When famed women wrestlers Sakshee, Vinesh, Sangeeta Phogat’s voices could not move an inch, expecting a revolution from our end is impossible,” said a wrestler.
At Satyawan Kadian akhara on the outskirts, which is owned by the in-laws of Sakshee Malikkh, the women players said their families had pinned a lot of hope on them for the upcoming tournaments. “If we speak, we will be targeted and may have to pay a price,” said a state-level women wrestler here. One of the parents of a women wrestler said that no women wrestler is ready to speak because they fear that their career would end even before taking off.
“The defeat of women wrestlers has caused mental trauma to them,” he said. Another parent said they were tight-lipped because they were terrified of the consequences but they all wanted a women president in the WFI, so that they could confide their feelings about serious issues such as harassment.
We also published the following articles recently
TOI visited three major akharas where women wrestlers practise for state- and national-level competitions, to talk to them about allegation levelled by wrestlers Sakshee Malikkh, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia.At the Chhotu Ram stadium wrestling hall, where Malikkh practised before her triumph at the Rio Olympics, about 50 girls who come in morning and evening shifts for training requested the reporter not to interact with them. On being asked about the reason, they said if the former WFI president Brij Bushan Saran Singh and his men were to learn that they were in touch with any mediaperson, they would be targeted and may face consequences during the tournament.
Similarly, at Mahadev wrestling academy where scores of young and budding women wrestlers practise twice a day, they said they extended their full support during the Jantar Mantar protest but had to pay a heavy price.
“We will not utter even a single word about the new WFI body. We have a lot to say, but we will keep it buried deep in our hearts forever. When famed women wrestlers Sakshee, Vinesh, Sangeeta Phogat’s voices could not move an inch, expecting a revolution from our end is impossible,” said a wrestler.
At Satyawan Kadian akhara on the outskirts, which is owned by the in-laws of Sakshee Malikkh, the women players said their families had pinned a lot of hope on them for the upcoming tournaments. “If we speak, we will be targeted and may have to pay a price,” said a state-level women wrestler here. One of the parents of a women wrestler said that no women wrestler is ready to speak because they fear that their career would end even before taking off.
“The defeat of women wrestlers has caused mental trauma to them,” he said. Another parent said they were tight-lipped because they were terrified of the consequences but they all wanted a women president in the WFI, so that they could confide their feelings about serious issues such as harassment.
We also published the following articles recently
Timeline: From wrestlers’ protest to WFI elections
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) conducted its elections on December 21, resulting in the election of Sanjay Singh as the new WFI chief. Sanjay Singh and his panel comfortably won most of the posts in the election.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) conducted its elections on December 21, resulting in the election of Sanjay Singh as the new WFI chief. Sanjay Singh and his panel comfortably won most of the posts in the election.
‘We are only concerned about the future of our wrestlers’: Sanjay Singh ahead of the WFI elections
Sanjay Singh, the vice president of the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association, is vying for the position of WFI chief in the upcoming elections. Singh emphasized his concern for the future of wrestlers and downplayed the significance of a press conference by star athletes accusing the now-deposed WFI chief of sexual harassment. The star wrestlers are set to hold a press conference after the announcement of the election results. The WFI elections were delayed due to protests and allegations of sexual harassment, but will now adhere to the constitution and guidelines.
Sanjay Singh, the vice president of the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association, is vying for the position of WFI chief in the upcoming elections. Singh emphasized his concern for the future of wrestlers and downplayed the significance of a press conference by star athletes accusing the now-deposed WFI chief of sexual harassment. The star wrestlers are set to hold a press conference after the announcement of the election results. The WFI elections were delayed due to protests and allegations of sexual harassment, but will now adhere to the constitution and guidelines.
Safeguarding India women wrestlers will be key to Indian federations return: UWW
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) may need to safeguard women wrestlers to lift its suspension imposed by the United World Wrestling (UWW) due to a sexual harassment scandal. The suspension was a result of the WFI’s failure to hold elections on time and the sexual harassment allegations against its then-president, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The UWW is gathering feedback to determine if the election was valid and well organized before lifting the suspension. Wrestlers have staged protests against Singh in New Delhi.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) may need to safeguard women wrestlers to lift its suspension imposed by the United World Wrestling (UWW) due to a sexual harassment scandal. The suspension was a result of the WFI’s failure to hold elections on time and the sexual harassment allegations against its then-president, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The UWW is gathering feedback to determine if the election was valid and well organized before lifting the suspension. Wrestlers have staged protests against Singh in New Delhi.