Vinesh Phogat Returning Khel Ratna And Arjuna Award Amid WFI Elections!!

By Rani Dhiman Last updated Dec 29, 2023

The legendary Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has once again made her mark on the sports world by winning the esteemed Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards. Continue reading to learn everything there is to know about the factors that influenced Vinesh Phogat’s decision!

Vinesh Phogat Returning Khel Ratna And Arjuna Award

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat expressed her disapproval of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh-loyalist Sanjay Singh’s election as the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president by returning her Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award to the government.

Days after Deaf Olympics winner Virender Singh Yadav and Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia returned their Padma Shri awards, Vinesh made his choice. Vinesh declared in a letter she uploaded to her X (formerly Twitter) account, “I am returning my Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award.”

I am returning my Khel Ratna and Arjuna award: Vinesh Phogat https://t.co/9wJh1b5Zts
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) December 26, 2023

Sanjay Singh was chosen as the WFI president on Thursday, taking over as head of the panel that included Brij Bhushan’s close aide, who secured 13 of the 15 positions.

Vinesh Phogat Returning Khel Ratna And Arjuna Award

The wrestlers had insisted that no one who was close to Brij Bhushan could hold an official position in the WFI. Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Malik declared her intention to retire from competition after the election.

But after the newly elected panel disregarded its own constitution in making decisions, the Sports Ministry suspended it. It also requested that the IOA form an ad hoc panel to oversee the sports body’s operations.

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The government used its “hurried announcement” of holding the U-15 and U-20 nationals “without following due procedure and not giving wrestlers sufficient notice” to make preparations as justification for suspending the new panel.

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