‘Being a woman…’: Protesting wrestler Sakshi Malik on PT Usha’s ‘indiscipline’ remark

Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik slammed Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha over her remarks that the wrestlers' protest is “indiscipline” and “tarnishing” the image of India. Sakshi Malik said that being a woman athlete, PT Usha “is not listening to other women athletes”. 

Speaking with ANI, Sakshi Malik said, “Being a woman athlete, she (PT Usha) isn't listening to other women athletes. Where's indiscipline here, we are sitting here peacefully...She herself cried in front of the media regarding her academy.”

Earlier in the day, PT Usha criticised the wrestlers who have resumed their protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan accusing him of sexual harassment. In a statement, PT Usha said the wrestlers' protest on the streets is “tarnishing” India's image. PT Usha said the protest by the elite wrestlers equates to “indiscipline”.

“Wrestlers staging protest on streets amounts to indiscipline. Wrestlers' protest on streets is tarnishing image of India,” PT Usha said.

PT Usha said the wrestlers should have come to the IOA instead of “going to the streets”. She said, “IOA has a committee for sexual harassment, instead of going to the streets they (protesting wrestlers) could have come to us earlier but they did not come to IOA. It is not good for sports not only for wrestlers, they should also have some discipline.”

Indian grapplers including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia are involved in the protest against the WFI chief.

Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra supported the wrestlers in their protest with a poignant tweet on Wednesday.

"As athletes, we train hard every day to represent our country on the international stage. It is deeply concerning to see our athletes finding it necessary to protest on the streets regarding the allegations of harassment in the Indian wrestling administration," Bindra tweeted.

(With agency inputs)