WFI Election: Sakshi Malik quits wrestling to protest against Sanjay Singh's election as new president

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New Delhi, Dec 21: Protesting against the election of Sanjay Singh as the new Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president, who is a loyalist of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, ace wrestler and Rio Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik on Thursday (December 21) announced her retirement from the sport.

Sanjay, a close associate of outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan, won the WFI election as his panel won 13 of the 15 posts in the elections in the national capital.

"We fought from our heart but if a man like Brij Bhushan, his business partner, and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, I quit wrestling," said a teary-eyed Sakshi, and kept her shoes on the table in a dramatic announcement. "We wanted a female president but that did not happen," the 31-year-old, who is also a CWG gold medallist, added.

Ahead of the elections, Oylmpic-medal-winning grapplers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi had repeatedly requested Sports Minister Anurag Thakur to stop anyone associated with Brij Bhushan from contesting the WFI polls. WFI Election Result: Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's Ally Sanjay Singh Elected As New President

Consequently, neither Brij Bhushan's son Prateek nor son-in-law Vishal Singh entered the fray. Bajrang and Vinesh Phogat, who addressed the media after the elections, did not say whether they will retire from the sport.

"It's unfortunate that the government did not stand by its word that no Brij Bhushan loyalist will contest WFI election," Bajrang said. "Upcoming women wrestlers will also face exploitation," Vinesh added.

(With PTI inputs)