On the eve of the delayed Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections, Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Affiliation vice-president Sanjay Kumar Singh mentioned he was assured of bagging 42 of the 50 votes and would make sure the ‘glory days’ of the game returned.
Sanjay Kumar is a loyalist of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the outgoing president who’s accused of sexual harassment. He’s pitted in opposition to former Commonwealth Video games gold medalist grappler Anita Sheoran, who’s backed by the wrestlers who accused Brij Bhushan of harassment and sat in protest demanding his arrest.
“I’m assured of turning into the president of the WFI as a result of I’ve the assist of not less than 42 of the 50 members of the electoral faculty. My panel will sweep the elections. Those that have the very best curiosity of the game at coronary heart will vote for me. What occurred over the previous 12 months (wrestlers’ protest) has harm the game. I’ll be sure that no additional injury is finished,” Sanjay Kumar informed this paper.
Brij Bhushan, a BJP MP from Kaiserganj, was discovered accountable for prosecution for sexual harassment, molestation and stalking of ladies wrestlers within the chargesheet of Delhi Police.
Anita, a 2010 Commonwealth Video games gold medalist, is a witness and a corroborator within the case in opposition to him. She is backed by Olympic medalists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik in addition to World Championship medalist Vinesh Phogat. They’re the important thing wrestlers main the protest demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan.
Final week, Bajrang and Sakshi met sports activities minister Anurag Thakur. It’s learnt that the wrestlers needed Sanjay Kumar to withdraw from the race.
Nonetheless, Sanjay Kumar mentioned that there was no query of him pulling out as a result of he was eligible to face for elections. “No one ought to intrude with elections of a federation whether it is taking place in a democratic method. Until now, no person has requested me to withdraw my title. I’ve been related to the Wrestling Federation of India for practically 12 years. I need to work arduous to make sure that the WFI returns to the heights, which our parliamentarian-president (Brij Bhushan) had taken it to,” Sanjay Kumar, who’s from Varanasi, mentioned.
On high of Sanjay Singh’s precedence checklist is to carry the nationals for Below-20 and Below-15 wrestlers. “The junior nationals can be held earlier than December 31 this 12 months. After that we’ll conduct the AGM and give you main plans,” Sanjay Kumar added.
Elections can be held for 15 posts on Thursday on the Indian Olympic Affiliation headquarters within the capital. 5 government committee members, 4 vice-presidents, two joint secretaries, a treasurer, a secretary-general, a senior vice-president and a president can be elected.
Bajrang, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh had agreed to name off their protest in June after a gathering with the sports activities minister Anurag Thakur. They have been informed they might have a say in who would occupy the important thing posts of president, normal secretary and treasurer. None of Brij Bhushan’s members of the family would even be allowed to contest the elections, the wrestlers have been promised.
Talking to this paper earlier this week, Anita mentioned if Sanjay Kumar wins then Brij Bhushan would proceed to have a say in how the WFI capabilities and ladies wrestlers wouldn’t really feel protected.
“No one near Brij Bhushan ought to be contesting these elections. If Brij Bhushan’s loyalists contest and win, there gained’t be any reforms within the Wrestling federation. Brij Bhushan nonetheless has a powerful grip over the WFI. Everybody is aware of that the particular person I’m contesting in opposition to is near Brij Bhushan. If ladies wrestlers are to really feel protected, WFI wants a correct cleanup. If the elections don’t result in change then what’s the level,” Anita had mentioned.
The elections have been to occur in August however have been delayed due to court docket instances. For failing to carry elections on time, the world physique, United World Wrestling, had suspended the WFI. Earlier this month the Supreme Courtroom put aside the keep on the elections imposed by the Punjab and Haryana Excessive Courtroom.