Newly-appointed president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Sanjay Singh, found himself embroiled in controversy just days after his election. Singh, known to be a close confidante of former president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who faced sexual harassment allegations from top wrestlers, was defended by Singh himself, denying being a "dummy candidate" and dismissing accusations of political manipulation.

Sanjay Singh, who secured the majority of votes in the WFI polls, took on the role as the federation's president amidst protests from wrestlers who accused him of being connected to Brij Bhushan Singh. Olympic bronze medalists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia had voiced their discontent, with Malik even announcing her retirement from wrestling. Punia went further, returning his Padma Shri medal as a mark of protest.

Responding to the accusations, Sanjay Singh stated, "I have been in the federation for 12 years. Just because I am close to MP (Brij Bhushan) does not mean I am a dummy candidate. Is it a crime if I am close to him?" This followed the stepping down of Brij Bhushan as WFI president due to the exploitation allegations made by female wrestlers in the country.

In light of the controversy, concerns have been raised regarding the impact on junior wrestlers. Sakshi Malik expressed her worries about the upcoming junior nationals, which will be held in Nandani Nagar Gonda, an area associated with Brij Bhushan. Malik questioned the choice of location, stating, "Is there no place in this country to hold Nationals anywhere other than Nandani Nagar? I don't understand what to do."

The new WFI administration, led by Sanjay Singh, also announced that the U15 and U20 nationals are scheduled to take place from December 28th to 30th in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, while the senior National Championships are set for January 28th in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra.

Despite the controversies, Singh's panel secured 13 of the 15 posts in the WFI elections. Prior to the election, top wrestlers such as Malik, Punia, and Vinesh Phogat demanded that no close associate of Brij Bhushan should be part of the federation. The wrestlers had accused him of sexually exploiting several female athletes, a situation that almost led to them throwing away their medals in protest.

As the WFI's new president, Sanjay Singh faces the challenge of rebuilding trust within the wrestling community and addressing the concerns raised by top athletes. The controversy surrounding his association with Brij Bhushan has brought the spotlight on the need for transparency and accountability within the administration of the sport in India.

Title: Wrestling Federation of India's Newly Elected President Faces Controversy Amid Accusations