NEW DELHI: Despite the suspension of the newly-elected office bearers of Wrestling Federation of India, wrestler
Vinesh Phogat
decided to return her
Khel Ratna
and
Arjuna award
in protest against the election of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh-loyalist Sanjay Singh as the
WFI
president.
"I am returning my Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award," Vinesh announced through a letter that she posted on her X (formerly Twitter) account.
Vinesh's choice comes just days after Olympic medalist
Bajrang Punia
and Deaflympics champion Virender Singh Yadav returned their Padma Shri awards.
However, the Sports Ministry had later suspended the newly-elected panel for not following the provisions of its own constitution while taking decisions and also asked the IOA to constitute an ad-hoc panel to manage the affairs of the sports body.
In suspending the fresh panel, the government cited its "hasty announcement" of organising the U-15 and U-20 nationals "without following due procedure and not giving sufficient notice to wrestlers" for preparations.
Newly elected WFI body suspended: Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh says ‘nothing to do with wrestling’
Sanjay Singh was elected as the president of the WFI on Thursday after securing 13 out of the 15 posts.
The wrestlers had insisted that no close associate of Brij Bhushan be allowed into the WFI administration.
In the aftermath of the election, Rio Olympics bronze medalist Sakshi Malik announced that she would quit the sport.
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