NEW DELHI: Four days after announcing her decision to return her Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards, Asian and Commonwealth Games gold medallist wrestler Vinesh Phogat left her honours on a pavement at Kartavya Path here on Saturday evening.
Vinesh was heading towards the Prime Minister's Office in South Block to return her accolades when Delhi police stopped and requested her to leave. Vinesh's decision follows Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang Punia's move to leave his Padma Shri medallion on Kartavya Path last Friday.
Bajrang posted a video on X of Vinesh walking on Kartavya Path holding her Arjuna award trophy and a letter addressed to PM Narendra Modi. The two have been protesting Sanjay Singh's election as the new president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) after his panel won 13 out of the 15 posts.
Singh is considered to be close to former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexually harassing six female wrestlers.
Earlier, Rio Olympics bronze winner Sakshee Malikkh had announced her decision to quit wrestling in protest. Vinesh had announced her decision to return the awards in an open letter to the Prime Minister on social media on Tuesday.
WFI remains under suspension from the sports ministry for 'blatant violation of procedural norms' and 'appearing to be in complete control of former office-bearers'. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has formed a three-member ad-hoc committee to manage the day-today affairs of the wrestling federation.
