Prominent Indian wrestler and Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik announces retirement
Sakshi Malik, a renowned Indian wrestler, announced her retirement from Wrestling on December 21, 2023, following the appointment of Sanjay Singh as the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Malik, a key figure in the protest against Brij Bhushan Singh along with fellow wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, expressed her unwillingness to compete under Sanjay Singh’s leadership, citing his association with Brij Bhushan.
In an emotional statement, Malik said, “We fought from our heart, but if a man like Brij Bhushan, his business partner, and a close aide has been elected as the president of WFI, then I quit wrestling.” “We wanted a female president, but that did not happen,” said the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medalist.
Before the elections, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, both Olympic bronze medalists, had urged Sports Minister Anurag Thakur to prevent Brij Bhushan’s associates from running for WFI positions. Their request led to Brij Bhushan’s son Prateek and son-in-law Vishal Singh abstaining from the elections. After the Sports Minister had assured them that none of the family members or close associates would be competing, the wrestlers had called off their protest on June 7.
Sakshi Malik’s achievements
Malik, having last competed at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham and winning gold in the women’s 62 kg category, has had an impressive record. Starting her international journey at 17, she secured a silver at the Asian Junior World Championships 2009 in the 59kg freestyle and a bronze at the World Junior Championships 2010. She established herself as one of India’s most successful female wrestlers, earning a bronze at the 2013 Commonwealth Championships and competing in her first Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014, where she won a silver in the 58kg category.
Sakshi Malik then won the bronze medal in 2018 and gold in 2022 in the 62 kg category at the Commonwealth Games. Her debut at the Olympic Games in Rio saw her clinching a bronze medal, becoming India’s first female wrestler to win an Olympic medal. Over her career, Malik won a total of six medals at the senior Asian championships, including three silver and three bronze medals.
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