Wrestler Vinesh Bhogat Leaves Her Khel Ratna, Arjuna Awards On Pavement After Police Stops Her From Reaching Prime Minister’s Office

Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold medallist wrestler Vinesh Phogat left her Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award on a pavement on Kartavya Path in New Delhi after Delhi Police stopped her from going to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office. The wrestler who had announced last week that she will return the accolades in protest against the government’s response to the sexual harassment allegations raised by her colleagues against former Wrestling Federation of India head and BJP Member of Parliament Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Earlier, Olympics bronze medallist wrestler Sakshee Malikkh had announced her retirement and Bajrang Punia, who won bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics, returned his Padma Shri.

Bajrang Punia shared a video featuring Ms. Phogat strolling along Kartavya Path, extending from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate, holding the Arjuna Award trophy and a letter. In the footage, she engages in conversation with an approaching policeman.

The accomplished wrestler had received the Khel Ratna, India’s highest sporting honor, in 2020 and the Arjuna Award in 2016. However, Ms. Phogat left the awards behind, leading the Delhi Police to retrieve them.

Expressing disappointment after the Wrestling Federation of India elections on December 21, where a panel led by Sanjay Singh secured a substantial victory, Ms. Phogat, Ms. Mallikh, and Mr. Punia questioned the continuity of leadership. Sanjay Singh defeated Commonwealth Games Gold medallist Anita Sheoran, supported by the wrestlers, with a decisive vote of 40 out of 47.

Following this, on December 24, the Sports Ministry suspended Sanjay Singh’s panel for not adhering to its own constitution. The ministry instructed the Indian Olympic Association to establish an ad-hoc panel for the daily operations of the Wrestling Federation of India, and this panel was formed three days later.

In an open letter shared on X (formerly Twitter), Ms. Phogat questioned the role of women wrestlers solely appearing in government advertisements. She announced the return of the Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award to prevent them from becoming a “burden on the path of living with dignity.”