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 last week.
Vinesh was heading towards the PMO in South Block to return her accolades when Delhi Police stopped her 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 earlier.
Bajrang posted a video on X of Vinesh walking on Kartavya Path holding her Arjuna award trophy and a letter addressed to PM Modi. The two have been protesting Sanjay Singh’s election as the new president of Wrestling Federa- tion of India (WFI) after his panel won 13 out of the 15 posts.
Singh is considered close to former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexually harassing six female wrestlers.
Ministry sources said that they are baffled at Vinesh’s decision “despite the ministry having suspended the WFI keeping in mind the best interests of the wrestlers”. They are surprised at the “timing” of her letter.