Sakshi Malik quits wrestling as Brij Bhushan's aide Sanjay Singh wins WFI Chief Election

• Sanjay Singh, affiliated with Brij Bhushan, secured a resounding victory (40-7) against Anita Sheoran in the WFI chief elections
• Sakshi Malik announced her retirement during a press conference, citing concerns over Singh's close association with Brij Bhushan
• Protesting wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, failed to garner sufficient support for a leadership change

 Sanjay Singh, a close aide of controversial former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh emerged victorious in the WFI chief elections held on December 21. Securing a decisive 40 votes to 7 against Anita Sheoran, Singh's triumph has prompted celebrated wrestler Sakshi Malik to announce her retirement from the sport.

Despite vigorous protests led by top wrestlers such as Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, and Sakshi Malik against Brij Bhushan's influence in WFI, the election results underscore a setback for the protesting wrestlers.

Sakshi Malik declared her decision to retire from wrestling during a press conference. She emphasized the hardships endured, stating, "We slept on the roads for 40 days, and people from various parts of the country came to support us. If Brij Bhushan Singh's business partner and close aide assume the WFI presidency, I quit wrestling," Malik told reporters during a press conference in Delhi.

"We have made demands for a woman president. If the president would be a woman, harassment would not happen. But, there was no participation of women earlier and today you can see the list, not even a single woman was given a position. We had fought with complete strength but this fight will continue. The wrestlers of the new generation have to fight," Malik added.