With garlands draped round his neck, firecrackers bursting within the background and supporters chanting his identify, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh flashed the victory signal for the cameras. Standing subsequent to him was a beaming Sanjay Singh, Brij Bhushan’s ‘nominee’ who was elected president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Thursday, defeating former Commonwealth Video games gold medallist Anita Sheoran by a margin of 40-7.
As celebrations erupted at Brij Bhushan’s MP bungalow close to Jantar Mantar, the positioning of protests towards him, wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat broke down whereas addressing the media on the Press Membership of India in New Delhi.
“He (Sanjay Singh) is Brij Bhushan’s right-hand man. He’s extra particular to him than his personal son. Now that he’s president, the approaching batch of girls wrestlers can even fall prey,” Vinesh mentioned.
Then, dramatically, Sakshi positioned her wrestling footwear on the desk and introduced her retirement. “If Brij Bhushan Singh’s enterprise companion and a detailed aide is elected because the president of WFI, (then) I give up wrestling,” she mentioned.
The wrestlers underlined their disappointment with the federal government, claiming it couldn’t fulfill its promise to maintain out Brij Bhushan’s relations and associates from the election course of.
Brij Bhushan with the newly elected WFI chief Sanjay Singh on Thursday. (PTI)
Again in June, earlier than the wrestlers known as off their protests, Sports activities Minister Anurag Thakur had assured Sakshi, Vinesh and Bajrang Punia that wrestlers would have an enormous say in deciding who occupies the posts of president, common secretary and treasurer.
However from the contrasting feelings on show, it was clear who was the winner and who ended up because the loser on this saga.
Whereas there was no quick assertion from the federal government on the remarks of the ladies wrestlers, an official mentioned, “It’s unfair of the wrestlers to say that the federal government ought to have interfered and ensured that the candidates chosen by the wrestlers win, as a result of the federal government can’t intervene within the election of an autonomous physique. Interference of the federal government results in disqualification of the federation by the world physique, as per the Sports activities Code.”
“At the moment’s election paves the best way for lifting of the suspension of the WFI by the worldwide wrestling physique, United World Wrestling (UWW),” the official mentioned.
The 12 months that began with India’s champion wrestlers staging protests towards Brij Bhushan, then WFI president, and accusing him of sexual harassment ended with the BJP MP’s shut aide succeeding him.
“This isn’t my victory, that is the victory of the nation’s wrestlers,” mentioned Brij Bhushan who was discovered liable by Delhi Police for prosecution for sexual harassment, molestation and stalking of girls wrestlers.
He made the primary remarks post-elections even earlier than Sanjay Singh, the little-known sports activities administrator from Varanasi who served as a joint secretary within the earlier WFI administration headed by Brij Bhushan.
Moments earlier than, on the Olympic Bhavan the place the voting occurred, Brij Bhushan’s son-in-law Vishal Singh – additionally a member of the erstwhile physique – introduced the outcomes of the elections that noticed Sanjay Singh and his panel profitable practically all positions comprehensively.
Virtually on queue, Brij Bhushan’s son Prateek posted the pictures of his father and Sanjay Singh on social media with a caption, ‘dabdaba toh tha, dabdaba toh rahega (dominance was there, dominance will proceed)’.
In accordance with former WFI officers, Sanjay Singh’s affiliation with wrestling started formally in 2008 when he was the district president of the Varanasi affiliation. A 12 months later, when the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Affiliation was shaped, Brij Bhushan was elected the president and Sanjay Singh was chosen the vice-president.
Sanjay Singh’s social media posts spotlight his proximity to Brij Bhushan and throughout the protests, he ceaselessly made statements in help of the BJP MP from Kaiserganj.
Handpicked by Brij Bhushan, he now finds himself within the scorching seat and can name the photographs in a sport the place India has gained a minimum of one medal in every of the final 4 Olympics.
Minutes after the election outcomes had been declared on the Olympic Bhavan in South Delhi, Brij Bhushan’s supporters chanted his identify as Sanjay Singh, who was carried by round 20-odd individuals on their shoulders, scrambled into an SUV to satisfy the outgoing president.
Brij Bhushan’s official residence additionally doubled up because the WFI workplace and is listed by Delhi Police as one of many locations the place he allegedly harassed girls wrestlers.
When the newly-elected physique meets, they may determine whether or not to maneuver the workplace to a different location, mentioned Prem Chand Lochab, who was elected the secretary-general.
“It’s too early proper now to debate all these items. When he (Brij Bhushan) was there, his residence was the workplace (however) we are going to see now. Correct workplace and one other set-up will probably be mentioned by the brand new physique. We are going to discover out the suitable answer in order that the atmosphere will probably be conducive for all,” Lochab, secretary of the Railway Sports activities Promotion Board, instructed The Indian Specific.
Lochab didn’t touch upon Sakshi’s resolution to give up wrestling however mentioned they may make sure that the wrestlers are heard.
“My message to Bajrang and Vinesh is we won’t let any grievances have an effect on you. We are going to maintain their considerations as a lot as we are able to,” he mentioned.
The WFI elections had been to happen in August however had been delayed due to court docket instances. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court docket put aside the keep on the elections by the Punjab and Haryana Excessive Court docket.