Sakshi Malik, the 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medallist, has made a poignant decision to retire from wrestling following the election of Sanjay Singh as the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
In a tearful press conference, Sakshi took off her shoes and placed them on the dais, symbolizing her departure from the sport. She expressed her emotional state, saying, "I am dejected, and I will not be competing in wrestling anymore."
Reflecting on the past, Sakshi acknowledged the support received during the protests earlier in the year, stating, "In the end, we slept for 40 days on the roads, but I'd like to thank the several people of our country who came to support us."
Sakshi's decision to step away from wrestling stems from her discontent with the election outcome. She specifically mentioned her concern about the close association of Sanjay Singh, the newly elected president, with Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former WFI chief deposed after a prolonged agitation led by a group of grapplers, including Olympians Bajrang Punia, Sakshi, and Vinesh Phogat.
"If Brij Bhushan Singh’s business partner and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, I quit wrestling," declared Sakshi Malik during the press conference held in New Delhi on Thursday. This decision marks a significant moment in the athlete's career and raises questions about the future direction of Indian wrestling under the new leadership.
(With Agency Inputs)
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