Wrestler Anshu Malik files FIR with Haryana Police after fake objectionable video circulated on social media

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Indian Olympian wrestler Anshu Malik, who has brought the country laurels with her sterling achievements in the World Championships and Commonwealth Games, recently encountered the worst facet social media has to offer which left the sporting fraternity livid and disturbed.

On Monday (September 18), an obscene 30-second video featuring a morphed image of Anshu became viral on social media. On learning of the outrageous incident, the wrestler's father Dharamvir filed an immediate FIR at the police station in Jind, Haryana.

Anshu's family under shock, files FIR

Anshu's uncle, Sandeep Malik, while elaborating on the issue informed that the objectionable video was around two years old and the individuals shown in it are now a married couple.

He condemned the act of using a wrestler of Anshu's stature to defame her with deceptive and distasteful strategies. The family claimed it is expecting swift action from the police and nab the culprits soon.

Sandeep was quoted by news agency IANS as saying, "The video is of a different girl and boy and it is around two years old. And the couple shown in the video are now husband and wife. The girl is from Himachal Pradesh and the boy is from Haryana. They are also wrestlers (local level).

"Anshu's photo was used as a template in the video. We have demanded action against the person who did it. This is unacceptable... Anshu is a world-class wrestler yet someone is demeaning her name using fake and ugly methods. I am sure the police will crack the case soon. Our entire family is in shock right now."

Asked about Anshu's whereabouts, her uncle informed the wrestler suffered an injury during the Asian Games trials last month and went to Chennai for rehabilitation. He further claimed that his niece is one of India's medal prospects at next year's Olympics in Paris.

Anshu Malik's Achievements in Wrestling

Anshu made history by becoming India's first female wrestler to clinch a silver medal in the 57 kg category at the 2021 World Wrestling Championships. Anshu also won a bronze in the same category at the Asian Wrestling Championships held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in 2022.

As Anshu fights for justice in this unsettling incident, it brings light to the insidious drawbacks of social media that athletes face. Enforcing stringent laws and regulations is necessary to prevent such harassment and to protect the dignity and honour of the athletes representing our nation.