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The long-awaited elections were finally conducted on Thursday, December 21, in New Delhi, marking a crucial turning point for Indian wrestling...
Digital Desk: After months of uncertainty and delays, Sanjay Singh, former aide to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, has been elected as the new president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The long-awaited elections were finally conducted on Thursday, December 21, in New Delhi, marking a crucial turning point for Indian wrestling.
The elections, which covered 15 key positions, including president, treasurer, secretary-general, and senior vice-president, concluded earlier in the day, and the counting process commenced promptly. The two-way contest for the presidency saw Anita Sheoran, a former Commonwealth Games Gold medallist from Haryana, competing against Sanjay Singh, the vice-president of the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Federation.
Anita Sheoran, supported by star wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Vinesh Phogat, aimed to become the first female president of the WFI. Her candidacy was fueled by a protest against the outgoing president, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who faced allegations of sexual harassment and stalking of female wrestlers.
Sanjay Singh, a close associate of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, emerged victorious and pledged to restore the glory of Indian wrestling, a sport that has recently produced several Olympic medallists. However, his candidacy was not without controversy, as prominent athletes, including Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, expressed reservations during a meeting with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur earlier in the month.
The elections also hold significance on the international stage, as the United World Wrestling (UWW) had suspended the WFI for failing to meet an August deadline for conducting elections. As a consequence, Indian wrestlers had to compete as neutral athletes in global events over the past few months. With the successful completion of the WFI elections, the UWW is expected to lift the suspension, allowing Indian wrestlers to participate under their national flag once again.
The path to these elections was marked by months of protests, initiated on January 18th when wrestlers gathered at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, to expose allegations of sexual exploitation and intimidation by Sanjay Singh. The athletes, not only seeking justice for themselves but also aspiring to create a safer environment for future wrestlers, demanded transparent elections and the exclusion of Singh and his family members from the federation. The protests persisted until June, when assurances of action by the Sports Ministry led to the athletes calling off their demonstration.
Sanjay Singh's election now brings both challenges and opportunities for the Wrestling Federation of India as it seeks to move past a tumultuous period and regain its standing in the global wrestling community.
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