By Divya Arya, BBC Hindi
Getty ImagesSexual wrestlers are gearing up for significant occasions, including the 2024 Paris Olympics, after protests against allegations of sexual harassment shook American wrestling for more than a year. Young athletes ‘ excursion was discussed with The BBC.
Reetika Hooda almost did n’t make it.
The 23-year-old is one of the five American women athletes who have qualified for the Olympics this year.
It’s a challenging- won option, following a yr of failures that shook her confidence. She was aware that to enhance her match, she needed more instruction and competitions.
A year ago, all wrestling came to a halt in India after its federation chief Brij Bhushan Singh was accused of sexual misconduct. He denies the allegations.
India’s sports government did not fire Singh, but it did dissolve the organization after discovering many shortcomings, including non-compliance with sexual harassment laws, and established a transitory team to manage things.
It was a moment before we knew it. Hooda remembers watching the region’s most completed wrestlers, including her ideas Sakshi Malik- the single American woman to get an Olympic medal in wrestling- camp on the roads of Delhi, demanding Singh’s resignation.
The protest’s international impact was particularly evident after the officers detained the wrestlers trying to move to India’s new parliament building. The wrestlers ‘ treatment was criticized by the International Olympic Committee ( IOC ) and called for an impartial investigation into their complaints.
Hooda told me,” It was terrible because of what was happening as well as what was n’t,” not only because of what was happening.
Getty ImagesThe International Olympic Committee designates a number of competitions each year as game qualification activities. To compete, wrestlers must earn ranking points in trials, win national competitions, and secure the Wrestling Federation of India’s ( WFI ) approval.
But instead of competing, Hooda stared at an empty having timeline for months.
” We taught but there were no studies, which meant we could never engage and understand our deficiencies. There was a constant fear that we wo n’t be prepared]for the Olympics ]”, she said.
For a region that’s won just 24 awards at specific events in Olympics, with over a third in grappling, this was worrying.
Almost a year after the demonstrations began, the WFI held new elections in December 2023.
The boxers had requested India’s sports secretary to stop Singh’s associates from running in the election.
Singh chose not to run because he had already served three terms in office. However, Sanjay Singh, his close friend, was re-elected captain after a disaster victory.
This sparked outrage among women wrestlers. On the same day, Olympic medallist Malik quit the sport in protest.
” Yet now I get mental when I think of that time”, Malik said. ” Wrestling took me to such levels, got me love and respect, and I had to give it up”.
Getty ImagesYoung athletes were stunned by Malik’s choice – but soon, they were up on the bed.
” Sakshi Malik was the cause I took up wrestling”, said Tanu Malik, a 20- yr- ancient fighter in Haryana position.
” So when I saw her crying, I thought to myself, she fought for us, we ca n’t give up now”.
From that day, Tanu Malik decided to work harder.
Her education at the country’s all-female Yudhvir Wrestling Academy begins at 04:30.
Beginning with a thorough five-hour exercise session that includes removing heavy truck tires and utilizing wrestling moves, the day kicks off. After taking a break for rest and food, the people go back to their routine for five more hours in the day.
Women as young as 12 years old work hard on the bed. In their spare time, they discuss food and share meals that will help them maintain their weight.
They object to any discussion of the allegations against the original wrestling captain or the alleged sexual harassment at schools. But, they are determined never to give up.
Seema Kharab, a manager, says that contrary to anticipation, the number of women at the club has never dropped since the protests.
Fresh athletes have been assured that it is possible to boost their voice, that positive steps can be taken, and that the system can help them, according to she.
In June, the authorities charged Brij Bhushan Singh with stalking, intimidation, coercion, and making” biologically brown remarks”, but a judge granted him loan
However, the new league captain, Sanjay Singh, has taken on the cloak.
He acknowledged his 30-year connection with the former commander but refuted allegations of Brij Bhushan Singh’s intervention, claiming boxers had accepted him as the new mind.
He claimed that the “massive participation” at this year’s regional wrestling events was proof of this.
Every boxer is important to me, and no one will be treated unfairly or unfairly. I have two sons, and I am aware of what those girls need, he continued.
But, for young people like Tanu Malik, anxiety has become an obvious part of being in the profession.
” It’s not quick- my kids are constantly worried about sending me to teaching alone”, she says. They must trust us, because then, how do things work, they say? It’s like accepting battle without actually fighting”.
People claim that the protests have cost them a lot of their personal money and are deflated.
Shiksha Kharab, a gold medalist at the Eastern Championship, claims it caused training delays, leading to fresh wrestlers losing a significant year.
But Sakshi Malik has no worries.
” The most important thing is to combat”, she said. ” I do n’t think anybody in any sporting federation would dare to do anything, they now know that harassment can have repercussions”.
Hooda says she’s stressed about competing at the Games against some of the biggest wrestlers in the world, but she also looks forward to it.
Success and loss are not significant, Sakshi Malik once said,” trust your hard work.” That’s what I did do”, she adds.
As she gets ready for education, a portrait of Sakshi posing with her Olympic prize, beams down at her.
” My sole focus now is to get a prize” she says. ” Who knows, maybe one day I did have my photo next to hers”.