WFI election Highlights: Sakshi Malik breaks down into tears as she announces retirement

WFI election LIVE: Congress leader Pawan Khera slammed the BJP on Thursday after Brij Bhushan's aide was elected to the WFI chief post.

"The BJP has made its intentions very clear, they will go to any lengths to protect their person. Despite the renowned sportswoman announcing her retirement or sitting on Jantar Mantar through winter and summers, they are determined to save Brij Bhushan Sharan despite serious accusations against him. There is nothing more shameful than this,” Khera said.

WFI election LIVE: Sanjay Singh is a part of the Brij Bhushan Singh faction. He is the UP Wrestling Association's Vice President.

Hailing from Varanasi's Jhhansi village, Singh has served as the WFI's previous executive council. He has also been the national federation's joint secretary since 2019.

Singh secured 40 votes against the seven that the other candidate Anita Sheoran won.

WFI election LIVE: Earlier this year, the top wrestlers initiated a campaign against Brij Bhushan, alleging his involvement in the sexual exploitation of female wrestlers. This issue is currently being addressed in court.

Their movement garnered significant support from various segments of society initially. However, the momentum waned when, on May 28, the Delhi police intervened and removed all protesters from Jantar Mantar, where they intended to march toward the new Parliament building, citing rioting.

The wrestlers officially concluded their protest on June 7 following assurances from Sports Minister Anurag Thakur. He pledged that none of Brij Bhushan's family members or close associates would be permitted to participate in the WFI election process.

WFI election LIVE: India's top wrestler and Olympic winner, Sakshi Malik, broke down in tears on Thursday while announcing that she is 'quitting' the sport following the federation election results.

WFI election LIVE: While announcing her retirement from wrestling, Olympic winner Sakshi Malik said, “We fought from our heart but if a man like Brij Bhushan, his business partner and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, I give up wrestling. From today onwards you will not see me on the mat.”

A teary-eyed Sakshi kept her shoes on the table in a dramatic announcement during the press conference on Thursday.

“We wanted a female president but that did not happen,” the 31-year-old, who is also a Commonwealth Games gold medallist, added.

WFI election LIVE: Securing a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics marked the pinnacle of Sakshi's 13-year career, during which she clinched three Common Wealth Games medals, achieving gold in the 2022 edition, and secured four Asian Championship medals.

She made history as India's first female wrestler to win Olympic medal.

Before the recent CWG edition, the Haryana wrestler faced challenges on the mat and relinquished her spot in the national team to young talent Sonam Malik, who emerged victorious against her multiple times in national selection trials.

Although Sakshi seemed to be regaining her form at the 2022 Birmingham Games, it's important to note that the level of competition at the CWG is relatively lower, given the absence of wrestlers from dominant nations like Japan and Iran.

WFI election LIVE: Sakshi Malik, the Rio Olympic bronze medallist, symbolically placed her wrestling shoes on the table as she made an emotional announcement of her retirement from the sport. Her decision was a form of protest against the victory of Sanjay Singh, an ally of outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, in the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) election held on Thursday.

Sanjay, closely associated with the departing WFI leader, assumed the role of President after his panel secured victory in 13 out of the 15 available positions in the elections. This outcome was understandably disappointing for the top wrestlers—Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia—who had vigorously advocated for a change in leadership within the federation.