Sakshi Malik exposes Brij Bhushan’s harassment in 2012 and calls for continued reforms in wrestling

New Delhi, October 23 (IANS): Sakshi Malik, Olympic bronze medalist in Rio, described her wrestling journey, highlighting the struggles of being a woman in a male-dominated sport, and recounted an incident in 2012 when she was harassed by Brij Bhushan Singh, the then president of the Wrestling Federation of India. WiFi).

Looking back on that period, she explained that speaking out could have cost her career, so she preferred to continue her education and compete internationally, even though the environment was extremely challenging.

“I wanted to write a book for a long time, especially after the Olympics. I wanted my story to be told. I wanted it to inspire and inform many girls because of my struggles. I wanted everyone to know. After the protests, I decided this, and after a few days I started hearing things about seniors. People said things like, ‘This is the man’ and ‘He is like this.’ In 2012, I met with an accident when the then President Brij Bhushan Singh harassed me. I knew it was wrong and I said no to it outright. I also told the story in my book: That time was really difficult for me IANS.

“If I had raised my voice then, I wouldn’t be sitting here today as an Olympic medalist. My career would have ended there. So I thought it was better to keep quiet and carry on without paying attention to that. After the situation from my husband, it was difficult. The next three to four years were tough because training among those same people, competing and then competing internationally was a challenge,” she added.

Sakshi decided to take a stand because she didn’t want future generations of female wrestlers to go through the same hardships. She expressed her pride in the struggle she fought and noted that some changes took place over time, including the removal of certain people in power. However, the fight for reform continues and she remains committed to the cause.

“It was all very difficult, and that’s why I decided I had to fight for this. The things I had to deal with, the struggles I went through, I didn’t want the next generation of girls to have to face that. A lot of girls get I’m afraid and can’t continue playing. That’s why I decided to take a stand. I also did well in my fights.”

The turning point came in January 2023 when Sakshi, along with fellow wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, led a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The protest called for the resignation of Brij Bhushan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment and corruption. The wrestlers also demanded a complete overhaul of the WFI, stressing the need for a safer and more supportive environment for athletes.

While the protest led to some significant changes, including the removal of certain individuals from power, Sakshi acknowledged that the fight for reform is far from over. She pointed out that the government’s support is inadequate and that no meaningful change will happen as long as influential figures like Sanjay Singh remain in power, stressing the continued need for a better wrestling federation.

“The protest we led was never against the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), it was all against Brij Bhushan Singh, the prime suspect. Yes, Prime Minister Modi supported us, but we want to bring more issues to his attention, so those who say the protest was for personal gain, they should read my book first.

Decisions are starting to be made in our favor and certain people have been removed, but still full recognition of our expectations has not been given. It’s happening and we will keep fighting. We keep talking about a better federation. As long as someone like Sanjay Singh is in power, things will not change.”