Brij Bhushan Panel secures victory, dealing a setback to Wrestlers in polls

In a surprising turn of events, Sanjay Kumar Singh, a key aide of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, secured a landslide victory in the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections, becoming the new president. The election outcome comes despite serious sexual harassment charges against Brij Bhushan, signaling a continued influence in Indian wrestling.

Emotional wrestlers express disappointment

Sanjay Kumar Singh defeated 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anita Sheoran with a resounding 40-7 victory. However, the triumph left top athletes, including Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia, Rio Games bronze medallist Sakshi Malik, and double World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat, expressing disappointment. Sakshi Malik emotionally announced her retirement during a press conference, expressing dismay at Singh's victory.

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End of tumultuous year in Indian Wrestling

The elections mark the conclusion of a tumultuous year in Indian wrestling that began with serious allegations of abuse and sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan last November. Despite protests, the wrestling community's efforts to seek justice have faced challenges, leading to an anticlimactic election outcome.

Sanjay Kumar Singh's election is expected to restore WFI's recognition from the world body, United World Wrestling, which was revoked due to delays in holding polls. The new leadership aims to bring stability to the wrestling landscape and resume sporting events that were halted for almost a year.

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The election results also witnessed a clean sweep by Brij Bhushan's camp, securing victories in all four vice-president positions, the treasurer's role, and all five executive committee memberships. Amidst raucous celebrations, Brij Bhushan assured support for protesting wrestlers, emphasizing a fair and impartial approach moving forward.