Wrestler Vinesh Phogat decided to return her Khel Ratna and Arjuna award in protest against the election of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh-loyalist Sanjay Singh as the WFI president.
“I am returning my Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award,” Vinesh announced through a letter that she posted on her X (formerly Twitter) account.
Vinesh’s choice comes just days after Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia and Deaflympics champion Virender Singh Yadav returned their Padma Shri awards.
“The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards don’t have any meaning in my life now. Every woman in this country wants to lead a dignified life. So PM sir I want to return my Dhyan Chand and Arjun award to you so that these awards don’t become a burden on us in our endeavour to lead a dignified life,” she wrote in her letter.
Vinesh was conferred with the Khel Ratna, the highest sports honour in India, in 2020 while she received the Arjuna Award in 2016.
However, the Sports Ministry had later suspended the newly-elected panel for not following the provisions of its own constitution while taking decisions and also asked the IOA to constitute an ad-hoc panel to manage the affairs of the sports body.
In suspending the fresh 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.
Also Read: Bombay HC Suspends LOC Against Rhea Chakraborty, Allows Dubai Travel
