Ladies wrestlers’ Olympic bid after combating sexual harassment

Ritika Hooda may not have been in a position to attain the Olympics.

She is without doubt one of the 5 feminine wrestlers who’ve certified for the Paris Olympics this yr.

After repeated defeats within the Nationwide and Asian Video games, 22-year-old Ritika’s confidence was wavering.

To enhance his recreation, he wanted to coach and take part in competitions, however wrestling had stopped in India.

Final yr, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was the president of the Wrestling Federation of India, was accused of sexual harassment. Brij Bhushan denies these allegations.

The Sports activities Ministry didn’t take away him, however after discovering violations of the provisions of the Sexual Harassment Prevention Act within the preliminary investigation, all the Wrestling Federation administration was dismissed and an ‘ad-hoc committee’ was shaped to supervise the day-to-day work.

This had by no means occurred earlier than.

Ritika noticed the nation’s most revered wrestlers protesting on the streets of the capital Delhi to demand the resignation of Brij Bhushan.

These included Sakshi Malik, the primary and solely feminine wrestler to win an Olympic medal for India, who has been her supply of inspiration.

The information of the wrestlers’ protest unfold all over the world. Particularly after they tried to march to the nation’s new parliament and the police detained them on the cost of not having ‘permission’.

The Worldwide Olympic Committee condemned the therapy meted out to the wrestlers and referred to as for an neutral investigation into their complaints.

After we sat collectively at Ritika’s residence in Rohtak, she stated, “These have been very unhappy days. Due to what was occurring and likewise due to what was not occurring.”

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Yearly the Worldwide Olympic Committee identifies sure competitions to qualify for the Olympic Video games.

To struggle in them, wrestlers need to earn rating factors in trials, win national-level competitions and get the approval of the Wrestling Federation.

However as a substitute of taking part in all these wrestling matches, Ritika was confronted with empty days, empty weeks and empty months.

He stated, “We saved coaching however trials weren’t being held. If we don’t do wrestling, how will we all know our shortcomings? There was at all times a concern that when all the pieces begins once more, our preparations won’t be full.”

This was a matter of concern for India, as a result of greater than 1 / 4 of the whole 24 medals received in particular person Olympic video games up to now have come from wrestling.

Ultimately, practically a yr after the protests started, the Wrestling Federation elections have been held in December 2023.

The wrestlers had demanded from the Sports activities Minister to cease folks related to Brij Bhushan from taking part within the elections.

Brij Bhushan himself didn’t contest the elections as a result of he had already held the put up of president for the utmost interval (thrice). However his shut aide Sanjay Singh contested and received with a majority.

Ladies wrestlers who’ve raised their voices towards sexual harassment expressed their anger and unhappiness over this, and in a press convention held on the identical day, Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik introduced in a choked voice that she was going to stop wrestling.

After I spoke to her once more after 6 months, Sakshi stated, “Even at present once I keep in mind that second, my eyes get moist. Wrestling took me to such heights, gave me a lot love and respect, and I needed to go away it.”

This transfer of Sakshi shocked the younger wrestler. However quickly, she was able to struggle once more.

20-year-old Tanu Malik from Haryana stated, “I noticed Sakshi Malik profitable the Olympic medal, so I acquired the braveness to wrestle too, in order that my identify brings glory to my village. Then once I noticed her crying on TV, I assumed that she fought a lot for us, so how can we hand over now.”

From that day Tanu determined that she would work more durable.

After Sakshi’s Olympic medal in 2016, ladies’s wrestling acquired a brand new vitality in Haryana. Dad and mom began encouraging their daughters in wrestling and separate wrestling arenas for ladies began opening within the state.

In a single such Yudhveer Akhara, Tanu’s coaching begins at 4:30 within the morning.

Aside from studying totally different workout routines and wrestling strikes, the five-hour session additionally contains lifting a 50-kilo truck tyre.

After consuming and taking some relaxation, there’s one other five-hour session beginning at 4 within the night.

Right here I meet ladies aged between 12 to 22. Most of them dwell right here.

They sleep on beds adjoining to one another in a big room and of their free time they debate on the weight-reduction plan required to construct a greater physique.

What she doesn’t wish to discuss is the alleged sexual harassment within the wrestling rings and the allegations towards the previous president of the Wrestling Federation.

However these ladies, who’re making their careers inside the similar construction of wrestling and beneath its guidelines and laws, don’t have any scarcity of braveness.

In accordance with their coach Seema Kharab, regardless of the performances being opposite to expectations, the variety of ladies within the enviornment didn’t lower.

He stated, “The protests gave the younger wrestlers confidence that it’s doable to boost their voice, acceptable motion will probably be taken on it they usually can get help inside the system.”

In Might 2024, a Delhi courtroom framed prices towards Brij Bhushan for sexual harassment, stalking, intimidation and outraging the modesty of a lady. The trial towards Brij Bhushan will start on July 26 this yr.

Throughout this era, Sanjay Singh has taken over because the President of the Wrestling Federation.

In a gathering with the BBC, he admitted that he knew Brij Bhushan very effectively for the final 30 years, however denied his interference in his work.

He claimed that the wrestlers had accepted him as president and their “enthusiastic participation” within the resumed wrestling competitions confirmed this.

Sanjay Singh stated, “Nobody will probably be given choice with out cause, nor will anybody be discriminated towards. Each wrestler is pricey to me. I’m additionally the daddy of two daughters, I perceive what they want.”

However for younger wrestlers like Tanu Malik, combating concern has now develop into a necessary a part of the game.

Tanu stated, “It’s not simple. Dad and mom are at all times afraid of how you can ship their daughter alone. However they imagine and ship her. If they do not imagine, how will it work? It will likely be like accepting defeat earlier than even combating.”

There are lots of wrestlers who really feel extra hopeless. These performances proved very pricey for them.

Asian Championship gold medallist Shiksha Kharab stated, “As a result of interruption in coaching and the stoppage of wrestling competitions, all the yr of many younger wrestlers was wasted.”

However Sakshi Malik has no regrets.

He stated, “An important factor is that we struggle. I do not suppose anybody in any sports activities affiliation will have the ability to behave like this now. Now they know that in the event that they harass, they must face the implications.”

That is Ritika’s first Olympics. She is a bit nervous about competing towards the very best wrestlers on this planet, however she isn’t missing in braveness.

She says, “I practice in Sakshi Didi’s enviornment. She at all times used to say that profitable or shedding isn’t vital, simply belief your onerous work. So that is what I’m doing.”

There’s a smiling image of Sakshi Malik carrying the Indian flag on her shoulders in Ritika’s Chhotu Ram Akhara.

Ritika says, “Now all I wish to do is win an Olympic medal. Who is aware of, someday my image may also be on the wall of my enviornment.”