In a seismic upheaval within the Indian wrestling sphere, celebrated wrestler Vinesh Phogat has made a resolute decision to return her Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award. This bold move, conveyed through a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, serves as a vehement protest against the recent election of Sanjay Kumar Singh as the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president. Singh, a known loyalist of the controversial former chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, secured 40 out of 47 votes to claim the coveted position, defeating former Commonwealth Games medallist Anita Sheoran.

Phogat’s announcement was made via a post on social media platform X, where she declared, “I am returning my Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award. Many thanks to the Almighty for bringing us to this condition.” This gesture, laden with significance, follows Phogat’s prior stand alongside Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik and decorated wrestler Bajrang Punia. Together, they were the visible faces of a protest against the former WFI chief Brij Bhushan, who faced serious allegations of sexual harassment and mismanagement, reported The New Indian Express.

The timing of Phogat’s decision is particularly poignant, coinciding with the emotionally charged retirement announcement of Sakshi Malik at the Press Club of India on the very day of Singh’s election. The lone woman wrestler from India to secure an Olympic medal, Malik, visibly moved, placed her shoes on the table as she revealed her departure from the sport.

Hasty Announcement For Wrestlers

In a show of solidarity, Bajrang Punia, another stalwart in Indian wrestling, penned a letter to PM Modi, relinquishing his Padma Shri award. Expressing his dissent, Punia tweeted, “I am returning my Padmashree award to the Prime Minister. This is just my letter to announce that. This is my statement.”

However, the plot thickened as the Sports Ministry took a decisive step by suspending the newly-elected WFI panel for purportedly failing to adhere to its own constitution in decision-making. The government cited the “hasty announcement” of organizing the U-15 and U-20 nationals without due procedure and insufficient notice to wrestlers for preparations.

Consequently, the Sports Ministry has called upon the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to institute an ad-hoc panel to manage the affairs of the wrestling body temporarily.

The wrestling community in India is currently engulfed in a maelstrom of controversies, with Vinesh Phogat’s symbolic act of returning her prestigious awards serving as a pivotal moment in protest against the recent developments in the Wrestling Federation of India. As the dust settles, the sports fraternity eagerly awaits further actions and responses from key stakeholders, while athletes grapple with the ramifications of these unprecedented events on their careers and the sport they hold dear. The unfolding saga has undoubtedly cast a shadow over the wrestling landscape, leaving many questions unanswered and the future of the sport uncertain.

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