Vikrant Shekhawat : Dec 26, 2023, 08:09 PM
WFI Election 2023: Amidst the ongoing controversy regarding the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), female wrestler Vinesh Phogat has made a big announcement. Vinesh Phogat has written an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and announced to return her Khel Ratna Award and Arjun Award. Before Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia had also announced to return the Padmashree award.I am returning my Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Arjun Award.Vinesh Phogat has written in her open letter that Prime Minister, Sakshi Malik has given up wrestling and Bajrang Punia has returned the Padma Shri. Vinesh Phogat wrote that now I want to get rid of the image of Vinesh receiving the award because it was a dream and what is happening with us is a reality. I was given Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Arjun Award, but they have no meaning. Every woman wants to live with respect, so I am returning my awards, so that it does not become a burden on us.Wrestlers have been protesting for a long timeLet us tell you that many wrestlers including Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat had been opening a front against former Indian Wrestling Association President Brij Bhushan Singh for a long time. First Brijbhushan Singh was removed from WFI, then when re-elections were held in the committee, Sanjay Singh was elected as the president. Who was said to be close to Brij Bhushan Singh. Even after these elections all the wrestlers had openly protested.After the protest by the wrestlers, the Sports Ministry had canceled the new committee and removed the entire committee including Sanjay Singh. The Sports Ministry had said that the new committee will have to work as per the rules, the imprint of the old committee cannot be visible in the new committee and the same people against whom the allegations were made cannot manage the committee. The wrestlers had welcomed the removal of the new committee, but despite all this, the wrestlers have continued to withdraw their awards.