As the year 2023 draws to a close as lover of sports there are two images that will stay in the mind forever. First was the moist eyes of Indian cricket Captain Rohit Sharma as he walked back to the dressing room of the Narendra Modi stadium after India lost the 2023 ICC Cricket world Cup final to Australia. The second one is the tears of wrestler Sakshi Malik who announced her decision to quit the moment Sanjay Singh was named WFI president in one- sided election . Sakshi was Bronze medal winner in 2026 Rio Olympics in 58 kg category.
What peeved the wrestlers was that Singh a loyalist of Brij Bhushan Singh Saran against whom the wrestlers protested on the streets of Delhi and and were even manhandled by the Delhi Police was back in power through back-door. The protests did not get what they wanted a – woman chief to head the WFI. So aggrieved were the wrestlers by the treatment meted out to them that they even threatened to immerse their medals in the river Ganga. Fortunately, some sanity prevailed and prevented them form taking this extreme step.
मैंने कुश्ती छोड़ दी है पर कल रात से परेशान हूँ वे जूनियर महिला पहलवान क्या करें जो मुझे फ़ोन करके बता रही हैं कि दीदी इस 28 तारीख़ से जूनियर नेशनल होने हैं और वो नयी कुश्ती फेडरेशन ने नन्दनी नगर गोंडा में करवाने का फ़ैसला लिया है।
गोंडा बृजभूषण का इलाक़ा है। अब आप सोचिए कि…— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) December 23, 2023
The Brij Bhushan Singh Saran controversy put the government on the mat and became an embarrassing moment. Yet the government stood behind the MP despite massive calls for his arrest and suspension as an MP. The arrogance of brute majority in parliament and the arrogance in full force.
During this entire episode Sports Minister Anurag Thakur’s inept handling of the affairs has clearly come to the fore. Thakur wastes no time slamming the INDIA alliance, Congress, Rahul Gandhi, and all non Congress chief Ministers but has failed to control the ministry he holds – Sports Ministry.
The plight of the wrestlers did not go unheard – 2008 Olympic individual Gold Medal Shooter Abhinav Bindra , 2022 Individual Javelin Gold Medal winner Neeraj Chopra , Indian cricket Legend Kapil Dev ( 1983 World Cup winning skipper) stood behind them yet the government just did not care .
मैं अपना पद्मश्री पुरस्कार प्रधानमंत्री जी को वापस लौटा रहा हूँ. कहने के लिए बस मेरा यह पत्र है. यही मेरी स्टेटमेंट है। 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/PYfA9KhUg9
— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) December 22, 2023
But alarmed by Brij’s audacity to get his aide elected in one- sided election, the sport ministry’s sudden move to suspend the newly elected WFI led by new president Sanjay Singh is an attempt to damage control. The inactions Of Brij had brought to the fore the way the Wrestling federation is run . The sports ministry gave reasons for their action stating – 1, Taking decisions which were against the constitution of the WFI. 2 Not following the National Sports Code.3 The newly elected members being under complete control of the former office bearers.4 Running the federation from the premises controlled by the former key members.
What shocked the wrestlers and the sports ministry was on the day he got elected as the new president of the federation, Sanjay Singh announced that U-15 and U-20 nationals will take place in Gonda, which is the bastion of former federation boss Brij Bhushan, before the end of this year. Having wrestling events in Gonda was one of the points raised in the wrestlers’ complaints of sexual harassment. The total disregard of the norms and the process left Sports ministry no option but to clip Brij Bhushan Singh Saran’s wings.
It is appalling that the government which which has left no stone unturned to coin catchy slogans – Khelo India , and empowering women with Beti Bachao Beti Padhao is a mute spectator when it women wrestlers who allege sexual assault and their protests are mocked and are seen a political. Smriti Irani , women and child development minister has preferred to keep mum. And the Godimedia has not dared to ask questions.
The news reporting on the wrestler’s angst has been nothing but pathetic to say the least. A news anchor in prime time was screaming from the studio’s when her news channel reporter was detained in Punjab while on her way to cover an event. She demanded apology from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP over the detention. But the very anchor chose to look away and pretended not to see or hear when a reporter of her channel was roughed up Brij Bhushan Singh Saran.
Which way the wrestling is heading nobody knows. With Paris Olympics due in 2024 it would be tragedy if Indian wrestlers do not go to mega sporting event. That would be a national shame.
मैं भी अपनी बहन और देश की बेटी के लिए पदम् श्री लौटा दूँगा, माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी को, मुझे गर्व है आपकी बेटी और अपनी बहन @SakshiMalik पर… जी क्यों…?
पर देश के सबसे उच्च खिलाड़ियों से भी अनुरोध करूँगा वो भी अपना निर्णय दे…@sachin_rt @Neeraj_chopra1 pic.twitter.com/MfVeYdqnkL
— Virender Singh (@GoongaPahalwan) December 22, 2023
As India prides itself as fifth largest economy and has an ambitious bid to host the 2036 Olympics in Ahmedabad, it would do well first to put house of sports the federations in order and respect the medal winners and not humiliate them . Which country in the world in today’s time has seen athletes threatening to immerse their medals and return the national award bestowed to them by the government? No one. This situation is a matter of grave concern. And matter of shame. If Rohit Sharma’s tears caused pain , Sakshi Malik’s tears and her anguish surrounding her sport needs to be addressed at the earliest. Then only we can be come a sporting power and Viksit Bharat@2047.
