Wrestler Vinesh Phogat. File.
| Photo Credit: PTI
World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat on December 26 stated she is returning her Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award to the federal government protesting towards the election of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh-loyalist Sanjay Singh because the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president, the wrestler wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Vinesh’s determination comes days after Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia and Deafylmpics champion Virender Singh Yadav returned their Padma Shri awards.
Also learn: Wrestling Federation of India timeline | From allegations, elections to suspension
“I am returning my Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award,” Vinesh introduced by means of a letter that she posted in her X (previously Twitter) account.
On Thursday, Sanjay Singh was elected because the president of the WFI after the panel led by the shut aide of Brij Bhushan gained 13 of the 15 posts.
The wrestlers had demanded that no shut affiliate of Brij Bhushan ought to enter the WFI administration.
Following the election, Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik introduced that she would give up the game.
However, the Sports Ministry had later suspended the newly-elected panel for not following the provisions of its personal structure whereas taking selections and in addition requested the IOA to represent an ad-hoc panel to handle the affairs of the sports activities physique.
In suspending the contemporary panel, the federal 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.
