With the delayed Wrestling Federation of India elections to be held on Thursday, former grappler Anita Sheoran, contesting to become its first woman president knows she is fighting an uphill battle.

In the fray is Sanjay Kumar Singh, known to be close to outgoing president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the president for over a decade.

After six women wrestlers filed complaints of sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan, the Delhi police filed a charge-sheet. He was granted bail but an on-going hearing is scheduled for Wednesday at the Rouse Avenue court, a day before the polls.

But Anita says Brij Bhushan’s reign over the WFI can end only if his loyalists like Sanjay Kumar, a vice-president of the Uttar Pradesh Wrestling Association, are weeded out. Anita is banking on the promise of the government that the prominent faces of the protest – wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat – will have a say on who will occupy the key posts of president, general secretary and treasurer.

Anita, the former grappler claimed while speaking to The Indian Express, “Nobody, close to Brij Bhushan should be contesting these elections. If Brij Bhushan’s loyalists contest and win, there will not be any reforms in the WFI. Brij Bhushan still has a strong grip over the association. Everyone knows that the person I am contesting against is close to Brij Bhushan. If women wrestlers are to feel safe, WFI needs a proper clean up. If the elections don’t bring about change then what is the point.”

Brij Bhushan, the BJP MP from Kaiserganj, was found liable for prosecution for sexual harassment, molestation and stalking of women wrestlers in the chargesheet of Delhi Police.

Anita, a 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, is a witness and a corroborator in the case against him. She is backed by Bajrang, Sakshi and Vinesh, who were leading the protests demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan at Jantar Mantar.