Sakshi Malik quits wrestling after Brij Bhushan aide's election as WFI chief

New Delhi: Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik on Thursday announced her retirement from wrestling soon after Sanjay Singh was elected as Wrestling Federation of India president.

"We fought from our heart but if a man like Brij Bhushan's business partner and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, I quit wrestling ...," a teary-eyed Sakshi said at a press conference here.

Earlier in the day, Brij Bhushan's close aide Sanjay Singh was elected as WFI president.

Sanjay Singh defeated Anita Sheoran 40-7 in a virtually one-sided contest. However, Prem Chand Lochab, who seemingly got the support of the protesting wrestlers, was elected as the secretary general.

"We wanted a woman president but that did not materialise," the Commonwealth Games gold medalist said.

Ahead of elections, Olympic medal-winning grapplers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi had requested Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur to dissuade anyone close to Brijbhushan from contesting the elections.

Punia expressed disappointment over the government's failure to stop a close aide of Brijbhushan from contesting the elections. (UNI)