The recent release of Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik’s autobiography, Witness, has ignited a storm of controversy, stirring tensions within the wrestling community and beyond. Malik, the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in wrestling, made several startling claims in her book, accusing fellow wrestlers and political figures of tarnishing the wrestlers’ protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and a sitting BJP MP.
In her book, Malik alleges that wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia avoided participating in trials for the 2023 Asian Games due to “greed,” a decision she believes marred the integrity of the wrestlers’ movement, which had initially aimed to address the sexual harassment allegations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Malik wrote, “Their decision to skip the trials did not have a positive impact and severely tarnished the image of their protest, leading many supporters to believe that the protest was for personal gain.”
Major revelations from Witness
Malik’s autobiography details several key moments and accusations:
1. Skipping the Trials: Malik claims that Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat skipped the 2023 Asian Games trials under the influence of certain individuals. She was also asked to skip the trials but refused. Malik believes this decision caused significant damage to the wrestlers’ movement, which had initially garnered widespread support.
2. The Jantar Mantar Protest: Malik revealed that the protest against Brij Bhushan was not initially her idea. “About 3-4 days before the protest, Babita Phogat called to ask if I was coming,” she writes. According to Malik, Tirth Rana, a BJP leader, secured permission for the protest. The goal was to remove Brij Bhushan and ensure one of the protesting wrestlers took over his position.
3. Vinesh’s Struggles at the Olympics: Malik addresses rumours of a conspiracy against Vinesh Phogat at the Paris Olympics. “There was no conspiracy against Vinesh,” she states, clarifying that Phogat’s struggles with weight during the event were well within the rules of United World Wrestling (UWW).
4. Childhood Trauma: Malik shares a deeply personal account of her childhood, describing how a tuition teacher harassed her. “He would call me to his house without notice and sometimes tried to touch me,” she recalls. Malik admits that she felt ashamed and could not confide in her family about the abuse.
Responses from the Phogat sisters
Unsurprisingly, the accusations have provoked strong reactions from the Phogat family. Babita’s sister, Geeta Phogat, was quick to defend her sibling, stating that Babita had no personal ambition to become the WFI president. In a strongly worded social media post, Geeta wrote, “Many athletes keep trying to push their agendas and polish their politics in the name of Babita Phogat. I want to tell them that whatever Babita has achieved in wrestling or politics, she has done so through hard work and honesty.”
Geeta also alluded to Malik’s accusation of greed within the wrestling community, adding, “Regarding the desire to be president, everyone knows who had that greed. The truth can be troubled, but not defeated.”
Vinesh Phogat, another central figure in Malik’s allegations, responded with her own defence, questioning the validity of the accusations. “What kind of greed are we talking about?” Vinesh asked, during a press interaction. “If speaking up for fellow athletes, my sisters, counts as greed, then this is good greed I endorse.”
Vinesh also took to social media to address the controversy, posting cryptically, “Don’t believe everything you hear. A story always has three sides. Yours, theirs, and the truth.”
Haryana BJP’s response
Haryana BJP President Mohan Lal Baroli attempted to de-escalate the mounting tensions by advising the parties involved to refrain from public mudslinging. “Babita Phogat is an honest, hardworking, and clean image leader,” Baroli said. “As a player myself, I would like to tell all players to move forward with good intentions and avoid negative allegations.”
Mahavir Phogat speaks out
Adding to the controversy, Babita’s father, Mahavir Phogat, a Dronacharya Awardee, stated that Malik’s claims were politically motivated. He suggested that Malik was being influenced by Congress leaders for political gain. “Sakshi is speaking the language of Hooda-Priyanka Gandhi,” he said, adding that Babita had no intention of becoming the WFI president and was merely supporting the wrestlers.
