India’s ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat introduced that she is returning her prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award on Tuesday, December 26. The three-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist additionally posted a letter addressed to PM Narendra Modi.
After fellow compatriots Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik hit out at Sanjay Singh’s election to the Wrestling Federation of India President, Vinesh additionally appealed to PM Modi. The centre has already suspended a newly elected Sanjay Singh-led panel however that did not cease Vinesh from returning her titles.
“Sakshi Malik had to quit wrestling and Bajrang Punia returned his Padma Shri award,” Vinesh wrote. “India’s Olympic medalists had to resort to this and everyone knows the reason behind it and since you are the Prime Minister, you must also be well aware of the matter. Mr. Prime Minister, I am the daughter of India, Vinesh Phogat and the situation I have found myself in for the last year or so, I am writing this letter to communicate that to you.”
Vinesh was among the many prime Indian wrestlers throughout a protest in opposition to former WFI head Brij Bhushan Singh and attended a press convention the place Sakshi Malik shocked everybody along with her retirement determination on December 21.
The 29-year-old wrestler from Haryana is the one feminine Indian wrestler to win World Wrestling Championships medals a number of occasions (2019 and 2022). Phogat has additionally claimed 5 Gold medals for India at international-level competitions and was the first-ever athlete to be nominated for the Laureus World Sports Awards in 2019.
She was awarded with the Arjuna Award in 2016 and Padma Shri in 2018. Vinesh additionally bagged Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, India’s highest sports activities honour, in 2020. Last 12 months, she was awarded BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year.
