Olympian Sakshi Malik has opened up about her ill experiences as a child  and also with former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. In her autobiography, ‘Witness’, Sakshi Malik says that she was sexually exploited by a tuition teacher at a young age, but she kept quiet. In the book, Rio Olympics bronze medallist has also revealed that she was allegedly harassed by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh during a tournament.

As per the Times of India report highlighting excerpts from Sakshi’s memoir, Brij Bhushan tried to sexually harass her in a hotel room. The incident took place during the 2012 Asian Junior Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Sakshi revealed that she was taken to Brij Bhushan's room on the pretext of talking to her parents on the phone. 

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"I called my parents on the phone. And then it wasn't a problem. Talking to them about my competition and medal, I thought nothing untoward could happen. But after I ended the call, he tried to molest me while sitting on the bed. I pushed him away and started crying, " Sakshi revealed in her memoir.

"I think he understood that I wasn’t going to go along with what he wanted. Then he said that he was like my father. But I knew that wasn't the case. “I cried and ran out of my room,” said the wrestler. 

In her memoir, Sakshi has also revealed the harassment she faced from her tuition teacher during her childhood.

“My teacher used to often call me to his place at odd hours.  Sometimes he tried to touch me inappropriately. I was afraid to go to classes. Initially I was afraid and eventually I told my mother about it,” stated Sakshi.

"My mother supported me not only during the incident with my tuition teacher but also when Singh began pursuing me. I attempted to move on from what happened in Almaty, following my parents' advice to focus on my training and competitions. While it may not seem significant now, I was truly grateful to be allowed to continue my training."

Bajrang, Vinesh accepting exemption from trials hit image of protest: Sakshi Malik 

Olympic bronze medal-winning former wrestler Sakshi Malik has said that Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia's decision to accept exemption from the Asian Games trials last year hit the image of their protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh as it made their movement seem "selfish".

Sakshi, who was one of the three prominent faces of the prolonged protest, made this statement in her recently-released book 'Witness'. She said their protest developed cracks when "people close to" Bajrang and Vinesh began to fill their minds with "greed".

The three had alleged that Sharan Singh, the former head of the Wrestling Federation of India, sexually harassed women wrestlers during his tenure. The case is still being heard in a Delhi court. (With inputs from Agencies)