Vinesh Phogat returns Khel Ratna, Arjuna awards

Vinesh Phogat was the latest to react to the events of last week when Sanjay Singh was appointed the head of the Wrestling Federation of India.

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat became the latest to react to the events of last week, when Sanjay Singh was appointed as the head of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) by returning her Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards.

The 29-year-old posted the news on her X (formerly Twitter) handle and shared a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi where she wrote about her decision to return both the awards.

Phogat accompanied the post with a sarcastic caption, where she thanked the almighty for bringing her and the others to this condition.

"I am returning my Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Arjun Award. Many thanks to the Almighty for bringing us to this condition," Phogat wrote in the caption, as was translated from Hindi to English.

pic.twitter.com/KlhJzDPu9D

— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) December 26, 2023

Phogat is the latest from the Indian wrestling fraternity to react after Sakshi Malik, who announced her retirement from wrestling, and Bajrang Punia, who decided to return his Padma Shri following the events on Thursday.

Singh had won the elections on Thursday after beating former wrestler Anita Sheoran 40-7 in the elections. However, on Sunday, the country's sports ministry suspended the federation following Singh's victory in the elections.

In its statement, the ministry stated the federation's "hasty announcement" of organising the Under-15 and Under-20 national trials "without giving sufficient notice to wrestlers to prepare".

Also read: Safeguarding India women wrestlers may be key to federation's return