Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat Among BBC's 'Indian Sportswoman of Year' Nominees
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New Delhi: Two of the wrestlers at the forefront of protests against the Wrestling Federation of India and its chief, the Bharatiya Janata Party MP Brij Bhushan Singh, have been nominated for the BBC Indian Sportswoman of The Year award.
This is the fourth edition of the award. Alongside nominees like weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, badminton player P.V. Sindhu and boxer Nikhat Zareen are wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat.
Phogat is the first Indian woman to win two World Championship medals in wrestling, and is also the first to win gold at both Commonwealth and Asian Games. Her latest gold medal was won at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Malik is the first Indian woman wrestler to win a medal at the Rio Olympics, followed by a gold at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. She has won a silver and bronze at previous Commonwealth games.
Both are connected to the legendary Phogat family of Haryana from which many prominent members, some members of the BJP now, have emerged.
Malik and Phogat were some of the biggest names in the sport to begin a protest against the Wrestling Federation of India which is now suspended over grave charges, including sexual harassment of multiple women by its chief.
The two have also said that they were not consulted when the government formed the oversight committee to look into their claims.
The winner of BBC award will be announced on March 5.
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