Congress leader and boxer Vijender Singh has expressed pain over Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik’s retirement from wrestling and called it a black day in the history of sports in the country. Addressing a press conference on Friday, Singh said sportspersons know how to fight and asked if this can happen with those who brought laurels to the nation then what will happen with common people.
Sakshi Malik announced retirement during a press briefing on Thursday after a close aide of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh won the election to the top post in the federation.
“As a player, I can understand the anguish of Sakshee Malikkh as she quit wrestling because she did not get justice from the government in the sexual harassment case. If this can happen with athletes who have brought medals for the country then what will happen with the common people,” he said.
VIDEO | “As a player, I can understand the anguish of Sakshee Malikkh as she quit wrestling because she did not get justice from the government in the sexual harassment case. If this can happen with athletes who have brought medals for the country then what will happen with the… pic.twitter.com/ehmgosjTUV
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 22, 2023
“The sports industry is upset with it (wrestler Sakshi Malik’s retirement). We will go to every player, every stadium and every ‘akhada’ and speak to them about women safety, the employment of the athletes and we will stand with them…” the 2008 Olympic Bronze medal winner further said.
#WATCH | Delhi: Congress leader Vijender Singh says, “The sports industry is upset with it (wrestler Sakshi Malik’s retirement). We will go to every player, every stadium and every ‘akhada’ and speak to them about women safety, the employment of the athletes and we will stand… pic.twitter.com/mDDKmCGRZZ
— ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2023
Vijender said that one can easily count Olympic medals and winners in India on fingers and then they are subjected to this kind of atrocity.
Talking to news agency ANI, he said Sakshi is the only female medalist in wrestling who demanded justice but she did not get it. “Pained by this, she retired. The image of India in the whole world would increase or decrease? The whole sports industry is disappointed. They blame that there is discrimination between boys and girls in Haryana and there are fewer girls. After this, would the parents send their daughters to the stadium?”
#WATCH | Delhi: On wrestler Sakshee Malikkh’s retirement announcement, Congress leader Vijender Singh says, “Being a player, I can understand her pain. The only female medalist in wrestling demanded justice but she did not get it. Pained by this, she retired. The image of India… pic.twitter.com/h8fnUqm3q4
— ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2023
“The parents of the daughters would be concerned that if an Olympic medalist is not given justice, how will we get it. The PM, Vice President, and President all should come and answer why this happened… This raises a lot of questions on the justice system and the democratic structure…” the boxer said.
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