In her memoir Witness, Sakshi Malik, the 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medallist, has recounted some of the most painful and traumatic moments of her career. Malik, who recently announced her retirement from wrestling, has made a shocking allegation against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexual harassment.
Disturbing Incident at the 2012 Asian Junior Championship
One of the most harrowing incidents, detailed in Witness, occurred during the 2012 Asian Junior Championship in Almaty, Kazakhstan. According to Sakshi Malik, Singh lured her into his hotel room under the pretext of speaking to her parents on the phone. After the call, he allegedly tried to molest her.
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“Singh connected me to my parents. It seemed harmless. But after I ended the call, he tried to molest me while I was seated on his bed. I pushed him off and started to cry,” Malik wrote, further alleging that Singh attempted to justify his behavior by claiming his actions were paternal, saying he had put his arms around her “papa jaise” (like a father). Malik managed to escape the room, running back to hers in tears.
A Pattern of Abuse
This isn’t the only traumatic experience Malik has endured. In her memoir, she also shared a disturbing incident from her childhood, involving a tuition teacher who harassed her for an extended period. The teacher would touch her inappropriately and call her over for lessons at odd hours. For years, Sakshi Malik kept silent, fearing it was her fault. Eventually, she confided in her mother, who supported her during both the incident with the teacher and her encounter with Singh.
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Emotional Impact and Moving Forward
Reflecting on the 2012 incident, Sakshi Malik revealed that her parents advised her to focus on her training and competitions, urging her to move forward despite the trauma. “It doesn’t seem like much today, but I was grateful that I was allowed to continue to train, at least,” she said.
Malik’s courageous revelations have reignited discussions about the treatment of women in sports, particularly in wrestling, and shed light on the importance of addressing such issues openly and with the support of family and the community.