Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik on Monday requested Union Sports activities Minister Anurag Thakur to make sure that Sanjay Singh doesn’t contest for the publish of WFI President since he’s an in depth affiliate of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassing ladies wrestlers.
The much-awaited Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections are scheduled to be held on December 21 and the outcomes will likely be declared the identical day.
Bajrang, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi had spearheaded the protest in opposition to Brij Bhushan, accusing the BJP MP of sexual harassment of a number of ladies wrestlers, together with juniors. A Delhi court docket is listening to the matter.
Tokyo Video games bronze medallist Bajrang stated they withdrew their protest after the federal government assured that nobody associated to Brij Bhushan would contest the polls.
Two candidates — Brij Bhushan-loyalist Sanjay Singh and 2010 Commonwealth Video games gold medallist Anita Sheoran are within the operating for the WFI president’s publish.
“Sure, we met with the sports activities minister in the present day and reminded him of his promise that nobody associated to Brij Bhushan ought to contest the WFI elections,” Bajrang informed PTI.
“Sanjay Singh is his shut affiliate and he ought to withdraw from the elections or in any other case we’ll resolve our future plan of action quickly. We informed that to the minister,” stated Bajrang.
Sanjay, who’s a Brij Bhushan loyalist, was a part of the WFI’s final govt council. He was additionally the nationwide federation’s joint secretary since 2019.
Bajrang additionally stated that they don’t have any points with Sheoran as she is a former wrestler and could be very properly conscious of the plight of the athletes.
“We would like some former wrestler to take cost of WFI, who at the very least is aware of what it takes to win medals for the nation. Anita ji (Sheoren) is a Commonwealth Video games medallist and understands the calls for of wrestlers,” he stated.
Anita, who’s within the operating to change into the primary lady president of the WFI can also be reportedly a witness within the sexual harassment instances filed in opposition to Brij Bhushan.
Brij Bhushan is at the moment out on bail. He isn’t eligible to contest within the WFI elections as has accomplished 12 years as an office-bearer, which is the utmost time period allowed as per the Nationwide Sports activities Code.
He additionally assured that nobody from his household would contest the polls.
Accordingly, Brij Bhushan, who’s the president of the Uttar Pradesh wrestling physique, and his son Karan, who’s a vice-president in the identical state physique, is not going to compete within the elections. Brij Bhushan’s son-in-law Vishal Singh, president of the Bihar Wrestling Federation, can also be not contesting the elections.
A supply within the WFI stated it isn’t a shock that efforts are nonetheless being made to affect the elections.
“You may see for your self that there are efforts to affect polls. However we’re assured that higher sense will prevail,” stated a WFI supply.
“Sanjay is eligible to contest and that is why the returning officer cleared his identify for election. Why ought to anybody object to his nomination,” the previous WFI official stated.
