Sakshi Malik retires after Sanjay Singh appointed WFI president

The Wrestling Federation of India elections took place on Thursday, 21 December, and Sanjay Singh was announced as the new president on the same day

[{"selector":"#anim-918a3548-2a6b-4ae1-8674-e95169427c57 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The result is a victory of sorts for Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who stepped down as WFI chief after being accused of sexual harassment, with Singh having close ties to the BJP MP

[{"selector":"#anim-c7f601d6-8bd7-4a3f-9d75-d9afdeed8679 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Singh’s victory in the elections led to ace wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat calling for a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday

[{"selector":"#anim-6599dc1a-f334-4500-880a-ba74fc68302e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Malik broke down while addressing reporters at the Press Club and took the sporting fraternity in the country by surprise by announcing her retirement from the sport

[{"selector":"#anim-1b3dead8-73cf-4348-bf36-8bbc75ae8601 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Malik’s sudden announcement brings the curtains down on a glittering career in which she won bronze in the 2016 Rio Olympics

[{"selector":"#anim-f46a98ba-2dde-4ab4-a6d5-c8c41ce09969 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

As for Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, the “future of wrestling is in the dark”

[{"selector":"#anim-d67b7a69-289a-46d4-ad53-be48ff51b729 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

With the elections having finally taken place however, the suspension on WFI placed by United World Wrestling is expected to be lifted soon

[{"selector":"#anim-f038e4f7-600e-43f6-a927-03ecad4d6b9f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]