Once united, how Sakshi Malik and Babita Phogat drifted apart

Over the past month, the tensions between wrestling heavyweights Sakshi Malik and Babita Phogat have played out in public with Sakshi Malik accusing Babita Phogat of possessing ulterior motives in her involvement in the wrestler's protests.

In an interview with India Today, Malik claimed that Babita's ultimate goal was to oust Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to secure her position as the President of the Wrestling Federation.

This assertion has reverberated through social media and public discussions, leading to Babita's rebuttal.

In a social media post, Babita claimed that Sakshi had 'sold her integrity' to promote her book, suggesting that her former ally had compromised her values for personal gain.

This accusation of integrity comes against the backdrop of Malik's memoir, which sheds light on the various struggles that wrestlers face, including the controversies surrounding their leadership.

Within the pages of her book, the stark realities of the wrestling community are laid bare, but the portions that stand out relate to Babita’s actions during the protests.

The book - titled 'Witness' - provides a behind-the-scenes view of the protest, specifically casting light on Babita’s absence from key moments and the conflicting priorities that emerged.

For readers, it’s an unfiltered insight into the challenges the wrestlers faced—not just against WFI leadership but among themselves.

Origins of the protest

In the chapter titled 'How the Protest Started', Sakshi Malik recounts the beginning of the wrestlers’ protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, largely initiated by Babita Phogat’s frustration with the federation.

Babita, deeply troubled by reports of misconduct and a lack of support for athletes, called a meeting with key wrestlers like Bajrang Punia and others including Sakshi Malik.

According to Malik, Babita’s resolve was clear.

"At the meeting, Babita convinced all of us that now was when we had to take a stand. It was true that the mess in the federation and Brij Bhushan's own actions had been going on for many years. But his term as president of the federation was ending the next year," reads an excerpt from the book.

The decision to protest publicly stemmed from mounting complaints from other players as well, many of whom alleged mistreatment and harassment but feared retaliation if they spoke out.

For Babita and others, the protest seemed like a necessary risk to finally address longstanding issues within the WFI.

However, the narrative takes a turn as Sakshi Malik describes Babita’s absence during key moments of the protest.

As the movement gained momentum, Babita was notably missing from the protest site.

Her absence didn’t go unnoticed, and in Sakshi’s account, she mentions Babita saying she couldn’t be seen with them after spotting a BJP MLA in the vicinity.

This sudden shift left others at the protest questioning Babita’s commitment to their shared cause.

Babita’s absence

In her book, Sakshi Malik sheds light on moments when Babita’s absence left a void in the unity they had hoped to maintain during the protest.

"Babita had been absent from the protest site from the very beginning," Sakshi Malik writes.

"This was odd, and Satyawart had been the first to notice it. When the rest of us had laid down the mattresses and had sat down, she was nowhere to be seen, and Satyawart had wondered aloud where she had gone."

This gap that Babita left was palpable, raising doubts among the wrestlers about her commitment to their shared cause.

Sakshi recalls, “We later found Babita cowering in the back seat of her car, as if trying to avoid being seen by anyone. At that time, Babita explained her absence to me by saying that while she was with us, as a member of the BJP, she couldn't be seen as part of our protest against a member of Parliament from her own party."

This explanation led to lingering uncertainty among the wrestlers about her priorities. Babita’s decision to step back raised difficult questions within the group as they wrestled with the complexity of her political and personal motives.

According to Malik, Babita Phogat, who initially helped organize the protest, soon appeared to withdraw.

"I think Babita knew that any protest by India’s top wrestlers on the streets of New Delhi would be embarrassing to the government," Sakshi reflects.

She suggests that Babita's involvement extended beyond support, hinting that Babita may have viewed the protest as an opportunity to further her political ambitions, possibly even aspiring to take Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s position.

She also describes how Babita’s influence affected the group.

For instance, Babita chose to exclude Yogeshwar Dutt, a fellow BJP member, from early meetings.

Malik suspected this was intentional, as Babita aimed to position herself as the central mediator.

This lack of transparency led Malik and others to question Babita's true intentions. Babita’s presence became a point of hesitation, with some wrestlers increasingly doubtful of her loyalty to the cause.

Throughout the protest, Babita’s interactions fluctuated.

She urged the wrestlers to believe government support was forthcoming, even persuading Bajrang Punia to meet with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, where she vouched for Amit Shah’s commitment to resolving their concerns.

“His word was all the guarantee we needed,” Babita insisted.

While some wrestlers leaned towards ending the protest based on these assurances, Sakshi and a core group remained skeptical.

“I was part of the group that wanted to stay on at Jantar Mantar,” Sakshi Malik explains, holding out for concrete action over verbal promises.

As the protest continued, divisions surfaced within the group.

Sakshi observed how some younger wrestlers, initially steadfast, began reconsidering their involvement under Babita’s influence.

For Sakshi Malik and a few others, however, their goal remained unchanged; they were determined to continue until they saw genuine action from WFI leadership.

The book delves into how Babita’s shifting role affected the protest’s solidarity.

Saksi details Babita’s influence, noting that at times her words brought about hesitation amongst others.

This perspective clashed with those who were resolute about demanding answers from WFI, and Babita’s participation gradually shifted to the sidelines, impacting the group's morale.

In her account, Sakshi Malik captures both the wrestlers’ struggle against WFI and the internal challenges that tested their unity.

Through her recounting of Babita’s actions, her book offers a layered view of the protest, revealing the complex alliances and motives at play.