This was in the 1990s. Disgruntled with the administration of the Badminton Association of India (BAI), Prakash Padukone decided to take on the establishment. The former World No. 1’s decision to contest the BAI elections drew widespread attention. Eventually, his team lost by a big margin.
The difference between that episode and another famous tirade launched against a national sports federation by some prominent sportspersons is fundamental. Padukone chose to fight following the established norms. Wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and others are demanding what goes against the rules.
It was no surprise to see the faction supported by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the outgoing president, sweep the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) polls. The former president’s men were the overwhelming favourites. Their panel bagged 13 of the 15 seats.
What was surprising was the immediate reaction of some leading wrestlers, who in January had started sit-in protests against Brij Bhushan, other WFI officials, some of the coaches and the system in general. Sakshi and Bajrang wasted no time in announcing on Thursday that they do not endorse the election results and that their fight would continue.
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Breaking & Exclusive 🚨
Sakshi Malik opens up on the elections, her decision to quit and what next for the wrestlers.
A RevSportz exclusive.@SakshiMalik @BoriaMajumdar #wrestling #BrijBhushanSingh pic.twitter.com/4jLDuoPMvr
— RevSportz (@RevSportz) December 21, 2023
With due respect to their achievements and the glory they brought to the country from the Olympics and World Championships, it has to be said that these decorated wrestlers are overstepping the crease. They are not only demanding something which can’t be provided, but also posing illogical questions. Protests were acceptable. This is not.
You can’t question a federation election held under the sports ministry’s supervision, following instructions from the court. Whether the elected president, Sanjay Singh, is an aide of Brij Bhushan — as Sakshi and Bajrang claimed — is immaterial. He was nominated in adherence with the rules and won with a verdict of 40-7. The nature of his association with Brij Bhushan doesn’t matter. Sanjay won fair and square, without flouting any norm.
There is room for passion and emotion in sports administration, like in the arena of sports. But not everything can be governed by that. Choosing federation officials in India is a process, which is different from what an athlete feels at heart. This is reality, whether one likes it or not. For the wrestlers to say that they were promised a woman as president of the WFI is childish. This is not a seat reserved for women. And they can’t direct who the candidates must be.
Sakshi and Bajrang saying they don’t like this is naivety. They have been champion athletes for years, who are supposed to understand that the federation can’t run under the command of the wrestlers. There is a legally registered constitution, with well-defined procedures and acts. Once someone is elected in compliance with these, that person can’t be removed just because certain wrestlers don’t think highly of him.
Sakshi and others have seen the system in India and other countries. They should know that athletes are stake-holders and the face of the sport, not the decision-makers. These are different domains. Action based on knowledge of this is the difference between what Padukone tried and what the wrestlers are doing.
Also Read: Brazen Show of Arrogance, and not WFI Election Result, is the Problem