New Delhi: Sanjay Singh, an aide of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, has been elected the new president of the Wrestling Federation of India in the elections held on December 21, media reports said.

The voting took place earlier in the day in New Delhi, with the counting starting promptly after the end of the voting process.

The elections, which were initially postponed multiple times earlier in the year, were held for 15 positions, including president, treasurer, secretary-general, and senior vice-president.

The election outcomes hold significance as they are expected to lead to the lifting of the suspension imposed by the global wrestling body, United World Wrestling (UWW), on the WFI. The UWW had suspended the WFI due to its failure to conduct elections within the deadline set in August.

As a result, Indian wrestlers participated in global events as neutral athletes in recent months.

The race for the presidency featured a two-way competition between Anita Sheoran, a former Commonwealth Games Gold medallist who was contesting to become the first female president of the WFI, and Sanjay Singh, the vice-president of the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Federation and a close associate of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Anita Sheoran, hailing from Haryana and running from Odisha, garnered support from notable wrestlers such as Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Vinesh Phogat.

These athletes had protested the outgoing Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexual harassment and stalking of female wrestlers.

However, Sanjay Singh, pledging to restore the glory days of Indian wrestling, has been a staunch supporter of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Although concerns were raised by wrestlers like Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia about Sanjay Singh's candidacy, the elections proceeded.

The backdrop of the elections was marked by protests initiated on January 18th, when wrestlers assembled at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, to publicly voice allegations of sexual exploitation and intimidation by Singh.

The athletes' demands included fair WFI elections and the exclusion of Singh and his family members from any involvement with the federation.

These protests continued until June when the wrestlers decided to conclude them following assurances of action by the Sports Ministry.