In another grim update to the Indian wrestling controversy that continues to rage on, Commonwealth Games and World Championships medallist Vinesh Phogat has returned her Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards to the government. (More Wrestling News)
Vinesh, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, among others have been protesting against the election of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's supposed close aide Sanjay Singh as the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president.
Vinesh conveyed her decision via a detailed letter that she addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Her move comes days after Olympic medallist Punia and Deafylmpics champion Virender Singh Yadav returned their Padma Shri awards.
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"I am returning my Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award," Vinesh wrote in the letter that she shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
On December 21, 2023, Sanjay Singh was elected as the president of the WFI after the committee led by the Brij Bhushan loyalist won 13 of the 15 posts on offer. The wrestlers had sought that no close associate of Brij Bhushan should enter the WFI administration.
After the election, Rio Olympics 2016 bronze medallist Sakshi Malik announced that she would quit the sport, though she later indicated a possible reversion of that decision.
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The Union sports ministry had eventually suspended the newly-elected panel for not following the provisions of its own constitution while taking decisions, and asked the Indian Olympic Association to constitute an ad-hoc committee to manage the affairs of the sports body.
While suspending the panel, the government cited its "hasty announcement" of organising the U-15 and U-20 nationals "without following due procedure and not giving sufficient notice to wrestlers" for preparations.
