Less than a week after wrestler Sakshee Malikkh announced her retirement and Bajrang Punia returned his Padma Shri, Vinesh Phogat, another prominent wrestler, has declared that she will return her Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award. This decision comes in the wake of protests against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who faced allegations of sexual harassment by several women wrestlers, including Sakshee Malikkh and Bajrang Punia.
Protest Against Former Wrestling Federation Chief Spurs Renunciation
The sequence of these decisions by wrestlers reflects their dissatisfaction with the electoral outcome, where a panel led by Sanjay Singh, a close associate of Brij Bhushan, secured a decisive victory. However, this panel was subsequently suspended by the sports ministry.
In an emotional open letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vinesh Phogat questioned the treatment meted out to women wrestlers, expressing concerns about their dignity. She highlighted the contradiction of being celebrated as the country’s pride when winning medals but labeled as traitors when raising voices for justice. The letter underscores the wrestlers’ stance against injustice and their quest for dignity.
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