New WFI chief Sanjay Singh: is he BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh's proxy?

The Wrestling Federation of India elections were torn between two factions.

While one faction backed former chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the other supported presidential candidate Anita Sheoran.But it did not matter!

Sanjay Singh, the man who has become the new President of the Wrestling Federation of India, is a close aide of Brij Bhushan, a man who often posts photos with the BJP MP.

Sanjay Singh had previously also voiced his support for the former WFI chief who has been accused by several wrestlers of sexual harassment.

Hailing from Uttar Pradesh's Chandauli, the Brij Bhushan loyalist was the vice-president of his state's wrestling federation.

Popularly known as 'Bablu' within the wrestling fraternity, he has been closely associated with the WFI since 2011. And eight years later, he assumed the position of joint secretary in 2019.

Sanjay Singh's nomination for the top job was already a contentious issue for the protesting wrestlers, and now that he has won the elections by a huge margin, it surely comes as a big blow.

Before the elections, the grapplers, including Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, were assured by the Sports Ministry that no family member of Brij Bhushan would run for the WFI elections.

Though Sanjay Singh is not his relative, he is very close to the BJP MP.

Many are terming him as Brij Bhushan's proxy, with wrestlers contesting that Brij Bhushan would be able to call the shots now that his associate has been elected.

An hour after Sanjay Singh was pronounced the new WFI chief, the protesting wrestlers, including Olympians Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia issued a statement.

A teary-eyed Sakshi Malik vowed to quit wrestling stating that she doesn't want to be in a federation that will be run by Brij Bhushan's associate.

While Bajrang Punia remarked that the government did not come through on their promise of not letting anyone associated with Brij Bhushan to run for WFI president.

And yet, it is Sanjay Singh, Brij Bhushan's close aide, who will take over the presidency after winning 40 votes to Anita Sheoran's 7.