Former Commonwealth Video games gold medalist Anita Sheoran, who contested for the put up of WFI president and misplaced to Sanjay Singh talks to The Indian Specific on what the election outcomes imply for ladies wrestlers, why their voices have been crushed.
You stood for WFI elections. Put up the outcome how troublesome do you are feeling it’s for an athlete to interrupt right into a federation just like the WFI?
A few of India’s greatest wrestlers had raised points in opposition to the previous WFI president associated to sexual harassment and security of ladies however even for them it appears to be a dropping battle. I don’t suppose any common sportsperson who needs to carry actual change may even dream of being a part of a federation now. Regardless of the difficulty being a critical one about ladies security, the WFI at present doesn’t have even one lady member. I used to be on the elections yesterday (Thursday) and after seeing the atmosphere created and behavior of individuals from Brij Bhushan’s camp I don’t suppose they may ever enable any wrestler with impartial views to be a part of the federation. They wish to preserve wrestlers so far as doable from the federation.
Sakshi retired yesterday after the elections, Bajrang positioned his Padma award in entrance of the Prime Minister’s home in protest. As a wrestler who needed to turn out to be WFI president and herald reforms, how did you are feeling once you noticed this?
Everytime I watch Sakshi’s video, my eyes fill with tears. To see an Olympic medalist retire like this was heart-breaking. Bajrang was making ready for the Olympics, however he fought a battle to make sure that ladies wrestlers remained protected. Identical with Vinesh (Phogat). They raised the voice of ladies. However what did they get at present? Their solely demand was reforms within the WFI and {that a} lady turn out to be the president rather than Brij Bhushan. Regardless of placing a lot on the road, ladies wrestlers within the nation obtained nothing.
Individuals near Brij Bhushan have returned to energy within the WFI. Did you could have hopes of profitable regardless of contesting in opposition to outdated arms of the WFI?
The entire nation has seen who was being garlanded yesterday after the elections. It’s now clear who the dummy is and who will truly run the federation. There isn’t any clear up within the WFI. Who will result in change? I don’t suppose ladies wrestlers might be protected in wrestling. Girls, together with juniors, have been fearful for therefore a few years… they may not even increase their voices. And now the voices of ladies wrestlers have been crushed once more. If one thing dangerous occurs to a girl wrestler at present, they gained’t have the braveness to talk up. The nation’s high ladies wrestlers had been courageous and spoke up about sexual harassment by Brij Bhushan, however at present they’ve been defeated. If wrestlers like Vinesh and Sakshi can’t make a distinction at present, which lady may have the heart to complain ever once more.
There was discuss that the protesting wrestlers are a part of a political sport. What do you must say?
The federation is meant to be for wrestlers. However in the identical federation, wrestlers haven’t any voice. Regardless of complaints of sexual harassment of ladies, nothing has modified within the federation. What do wrestlers do? Are wrestlers not supposed to fulfill politicians? The wrestlers know that the selections associated to WFI are being managed by politicians who’re in energy. Politicians like Brij Bhushan are supreme at present and wrestlers, regardless of incomes medals for the nation, are powerless. So what’s incorrect in being a part of the political system to result in constructive change for ladies.
One of many first choices put up the WFI elections was to carry the junior nationals in Gonda, Brij Bhushan’s yard…
Gonda and Nandini Nagar is just not the appropriate place to conduct nationals as it’s Brij Bhushan’s space. We must always maintain nationals in a spot, which is conducive for promotion of the game. Why not conduct the nationals in Odisha the place nationwide championships haven’t been held? No less than the game will unfold to new locations. I’ve been to Gonda, and when a wrestling occasion is held it’s extra like a political rally.
You could have been a wrestler for 20 years. How was the atmosphere for ladies wrestlers?
I’ve met and spoken to so many ladies wrestlers who’ve informed me issues which mustn’t have occurred to them. Now the entire nation has seen the place the accused individual is at present and the place ladies wrestlers are. Girls wrestlers are on the streets at present. The previous WFI president was somebody who ladies had been even scared to speak to and he had a nasty popularity. Women had been fearful that their careers can be completed in the event that they spoke up.
In case you had gained the elections, do you are feeling that extra ladies would have felt empowered and would have spoken up?
If I had turn out to be president and there was a clear up within the WFI, I’m positive many extra ladies would have spoken up in regards to the sexual harassment that they had confronted. Wrestling is my second household, and I do know what ladies wrestlers have needed to face. Now, ladies wrestlers are scared as a result of they know that Brij Bhushan will all the time be related to the federation by way of his individuals who have gained elections. Everybody must salute him and tanashahi chalti rahegi.