'First step towards something good': Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia welcome WFI's suspension by Sports Ministry

Ace wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia on Sunday welcomed the Sports Ministry’s decision to suspend the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) just three days after Sanjay Singh had been appointed its new president.

Malik and Punia were among those who slammed Singh’s victory in the elections, given his proximity to controversial former president and Bharatiya Janata Party MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Rio Olympics bronze medallist Malik announced her retirement the same day Singh was elected WFI president while Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Punia would later return his Padma Shri award, both decisions made in protest.

Read | Sports Ministry asks IOA to form ad-hoc panel after suspending WFI

Malik, one of the prominent faces of the agitation against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, welcomed the WFI’s suspension.

“It is the first step towards something good happening. I hope the government understands more for what cause we were fighting,” said Malik.

“If a woman federation president is there, it will be better for the safety of women wrestlers. It was a fight for sisters and daughters of the country,” she added.

Punia, who had returned his Padma Shri medallion to the government on Friday in protest, however, said he won’t take back his award.

“Now that I have returned it, I am not going to take it back. The honour of our sisters and daughters is bigger than any award. All of you have seen what is happening,” the Tokyo Games bronze medal winner told PTI.

Read | Sanjay Singh says WFI can ‘explore legal options’ to get suspension lifted

“I will think about taking it back only after justice is delivered. The matter is in court and we are waiting for justice,” he added.

Bajrang, Sakshi and Vinesh Phogat had accused Brij Bhushan of sexually exploiting women wrestlers during his tenure as WFI president.

With inputs from PTI