A day after retiring in protest against newly-elected Wrestling Federation of India chief Sanjay Singh, accusing him of being the ‘business partner’ and close aide of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Sakshee Malikkh said that women wrestlers who came forward to file complaints of sexual harassment against the ex-president will be threatened.

Sakshsee Malikkh, who was one of the faces of the months-long protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, said the newly-elected WFI body will be influenced by the ex-president and alleged that his camp has already falsely accused a couple of the women wrestlers who complained against the powerful administrator of doping.

Speaking to India Today’s Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai, Sakshee Malikkh said she doesn’t believe any of those female wrestlers who accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment would get justice.

Saksshee Malikkh, in an emotional press conference in New Delhi after Sanjay Singh’s election as new WFI president, quit the sport, saying she wouldn’t continue wrestling if Brij Bhushan’s close aides continued to wield power in the federation. The Rio Olympics medalist was unable to hold back her tears as she left her pair of shoes on the table, signaling the end of her decorated career.

“The moment Brij Bhushan’s business partner won the elections, I can’t give the guarantee that even one of the women wrestlers would get justice. They have regained the power. They will threaten the ones who came forward to give the case, there are a few wrestlers who have been falsely accused of doping,” Sakshee said.

“They are reaching out, they are looking for those wrestlers. Wrestlers from humble family, how much can they fight? If a woman had become president, I assure you many more wrestlers would have come forward,” she added.

Sakshee Malikkh also said that the government did not fulfill its promise of having a female president for the WFI, adding they were assured of it when they met the Sports Minister Anurag Thakur before they ended their 5-month protest earlier in the year.

‘WILL NOT RETURN TO WRESTLING’

Sakshee said she took the decision to retire after a lot of thought and that she would not reconsider it until Sanjay Singh remains the president of the WFI.

Brij Bhushan’s loyalist Sanjay Singh emerged triumphant, winning 40 out of 47 votes. Sanjay, who was the vice-president of the Uttar Pradesh wrestling body, defeated former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anita Sheoran in the race for the president’s post.

“It’s a sad moment for me because I decided to quit wrestling only yesterday. The sport that gave us so much, I won medals with the support of the people of this county, I am here today because of wrestling, but I chose to quit it. I took this decision after a lot of thought. I stick to my decision of not wrestling again, if people like Brij Bhushan are part of the federation,” she added.

“In the state bodies, there are only people of Brij Bhushan. It’s a given that they would vote for him.”

In June, the Delhi Police filed a comprehensive chargesheet against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The charges levied against Singh included Section 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), Section 354A (sexual harassment), and Section 354D (stalking). These serious allegations were supported by the testimonies of several witnesses including wrestlers, coaches, and referees, corroborating the claims.