By Divya Arya, BBC Hindi
Getty PhotographsOver a yr after protests towards sexual harassment allegations shook Indian wrestling, feminine athletes are gearing up for main occasions, together with the 2024 Paris Olympics. The BBC spoke to younger wrestlers about their journey.
Reetika Hooda nearly did not make it.
The 23-year-old is among the many 5 Indian ladies wrestlers to qualify for the Olympics this yr.
It’s a hard-won alternative, following a yr of setbacks that shook her confidence. She knew she wanted extra coaching and competitions to enhance her recreation.
A yr in the past, all wrestling got here to a halt in India after its federation chief Brij Bhushan Singh was accused of sexual misconduct. He denies the allegations.
India’s sports activities ministry didn’t sack Singh however it disbanded the federation after discovering a number of lapses, together with the non-compliance of sexual harassment legal guidelines, and arrange a brief staff to run issues.
It was an unprecedented time. Hooda remembers watching the nation’s most completed wrestlers, together with her inspiration Sakshi Malik – the one Indian girl to win an Olympic medal in wrestling – camp on the roads of Delhi, demanding Singh’s resignation.
The protest made headlines globally, particularly after the police detained the wrestlers once they tried to march to India’s new parliament constructing. The Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) condemned the way in which the wrestlers had been handled and referred to as for an neutral inquiry into their complaints.
“It was unhappy – not solely due to what was taking place but additionally what wasn’t,” Hooda advised me.
Getty PhotographsEvery year, the Worldwide Olympic Committee designates sure tournaments as qualification occasions for the video games. To compete, wrestlers should earn rating factors in trials, win nationwide competitions, and safe the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) approval.
However as a substitute of competing, Hooda stared at an empty sporting calendar for weeks.
“We skilled however there have been no trials, which meant we couldn’t compete and know our shortcomings. There was a relentless concern that we received’t be ready [for the Olympics],” she mentioned.
For a rustic that’s received solely 24 medals at particular person occasions in Olympics, with over 1 / 4 in wrestling, this was worrying.
Recent elections to the WFI had been lastly held in December 2023, almost a yr after the protests started.
The wrestlers had requested India’s sports activities minister to stop folks related to Singh from collaborating within the election.
Singh didn’t contest as he had already served the utmost of three phrases. However his shut aide Sanjay Singh was elected the chief after a landslide victory.
This sparked outrage amongst ladies wrestlers. On the identical day, Olympic medallist Malik quit the sport in protest.
“Even now I get emotional after I consider that second,” Malik mentioned. “Wrestling took me to such heights, received me love and respect, and I needed to give it up.”
Getty PhotographsYounger wrestlers had been shocked by Malik’s determination – however quickly, they had been again on the mat.
“Sakshi Malik was the rationale I took up wrestling,” mentioned Tanu Malik, a 20-year-old wrestler in Haryana state.
“So after I noticed her crying, I assumed to myself, she fought for us, we are able to’t surrender now.”
From that day, Tanu Malik determined to work tougher.
Her coaching on the state’s all-women Yudhvir Wrestling Academy begins at 04:30.
The day begins with a rigorous five-hour health session, lifting massive truck tyres and training wrestling methods. After a break for meals and relaxation, the ladies resume coaching for an additional 5 hours within the afternoon.
Ladies as younger as 12 years sweat it out on the mat. Of their free time, they speak about diets and share recipes that will assist them keep match.
None of them need to discuss in regards to the alleged sexual harassment at academies or the accusations towards the previous wrestling chief. Nonetheless, they’re decided not to surrender.
Seema Kharab, a coach, says that opposite to expectations, the variety of ladies on the academy has not dropped for the reason that protests.
“The protests have assured younger wrestlers that it’s attainable to lift their voice, that optimistic motion could also be taken they usually can get help inside the system,” she says.
In June, the police charged Brij Bhushan Singh with stalking, harassment, intimidation, and making “sexually colored remarks”, however a court docket granted him bail
In the meantime, the brand new federation chief, Sanjay Singh, has taken on the mantle.
He acknowledged his 30-year relationship with the previous chief however dismissed allegations of Brij Bhushan Singh’s interference, claiming wrestlers had accepted him as the brand new head.
He mentioned this was evident from the “large turnout” at nationwide wrestling competitions this yr.
“No-one shall be favoured or discriminated towards and every wrestler is expensive to me. I’m additionally the daddy of two daughters and I perceive what daughters want,” he added.
Nonetheless, for younger ladies like Tanu Malik, concern has develop into an inescapable a part of being within the career.
“It’s not simple – my mother and father are continually apprehensive about sending me to coaching alone,” she says. “However they need to belief us, in any other case how would issues work? It’s like accepting defeat with out even combating.”
Others really feel deflated and say the protests have come at an enormous private value for them.
Shiksha Kharab, a gold medallist on the Asian Championship, says it induced disruptions in coaching due to which younger wrestlers have misplaced an important yr.
However Sakshi Malik has no regrets.
“Crucial factor is to battle,” she mentioned. “I don’t suppose anyone in any sporting federation would dare to do something, they now know that harassment can have repercussions.”
Hooda says she’s nervous about competing with a number of the world’s greatest wrestling giants on the Video games, but additionally trying ahead to it.
“Sakshi Malik used to say victory and loss usually are not essential – simply belief your exhausting work. That’s what I’ll do,” she provides.
As she will get prepared for coaching, an image of Sakshi posing together with her Olympic medal, beams down at her.
“My solely focus now could be to win a medal” she says. “Who is aware of, possibly someday I’ll have my image subsequent to hers.”
