Vinesh Phogat leaves Arjuna, Khel Ratna Awards: Wrestler Vinesh Phogat leaves Arjuna and Khel Ratna awards in front of the Prime Minister’s office. It was left on the road when the security personnel blocked it before reaching the Prime Minister’s office in New Delhi. The actor left the awards following a dispute with the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).. Bajrang Punia had returned the Padma Shri and Sakshi Malik had announced his retirement. The action of the stars is in protest against the election of Sanjay Singh, a close follower of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is facing sex allegations, as the WFI president. Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Vinesh Phogat has written an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing his disappointment over the election and developments of Sanjay Singh.
Vinesh Phogat had said in the letter that he would return his Arjuna and Khel Ratna awards expressing his disappointment over the lack of justice for women wrestlers. Brij Bhushan Saran Singhinere has been accused of sexual harassment by many female wrestlers. The country’s top wrestlers, including Vinesh, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, then led a months-long protest against Brij Bhushana.
“I got Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Arjuna award but they have no meaning in my life. Every woman wants to live with dignity. So Prime Minister, I want to return my Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Arjuna. I am returning this award so that these awards do not burden us on the path of living with dignity.” – Vinesh wrote in his letter to the Prime Minister.
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Bajrang Punia had also returned the Padma Shri award and Sakshi Malik announced his retirement in protest against the newly elected WFI panel.
“Let there not be a day like this in the life of any sportsperson. Women wrestlers in the country are going through the worst phase.” – Bajrang Punia said in a post on X. The players are demanding justice for the women wrestlers who came to complain against Brij Bhushan in the sexual harassment case.
After a long struggle, the WFI elections were held on December 21 following the directions of the Supreme Court. Sanjay Singh defeated former Commonwealth Games gold medalist Anita Sheoran, a witness in the sexual harassment case against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
On December 21, footage of Sanjay Singh celebrating his election victory with Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh went viral. Meanwhile, the sports ministry suspended the WFI through a strong statement on December 24. The ministry’s action was alleging that the newly elected board, chaired by Sanjay Singh, was under the influence of former incumbent Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was still suspended following sex allegations.
Following the suspension, the Sports Ministry formed an ad hoc committee to oversee the WFI activities. A three-member committee was formed. Bajang Punia had on Saturday requested the Sports Ministry to resume wrestling tournaments in India.
2023-12-30 16:05:56
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