In a dramatic gesture of protest, celebrated wrestler Vinesh Phogat abandoned her prestigious Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award on a pavement along Kartavya Path in New Delhi, four days after announcing her intention to return them. This defiant act came after Delhi Police prevented her from reaching the Prime Minister’s office, adding to the dramatic tension of the situation.

Phogat’s decision to return the awards was initially made public in an open letter to the Prime Minister. Her move followed closely on the heels of similar announcements by fellow wrestlers Sakshee Malikkh, who retired, and Bajrang Punia, who returned his Padma Shri. The trio has been actively protesting against the then Wrestling Federation of India president, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, following allegations of sexual harassment made by several women wrestlers.

The video posted by Bajrang Punia captured Phogat’s poignant walk on Kartavya Path, holding her awards and interacting with a policeman. Phogat was awarded the Khel Ratna in 2020 and the Arjuna Award in 2016, recognizing her significant contributions to Indian sports.

The controversy intensified after Sanjay Singh, a close aide of Brij Bhushan, won the Wrestling Federation of India elections, defeating Commonwealth Games Gold medallist Anita Sheoran. The Sports Ministry’s subsequent suspension of the panel led by Singh and the formation of an ad-hoc panel by the Indian Olympic Association added further layers to the unfolding drama.

In her open letter, Phogat expressed her disillusionment with the current state of affairs in Indian wrestling, stating her unwillingness to let her awards become a “burden on the path of living with dignity.” She also referred to Brij Bhushan’s televised admission of making women wrestlers uncomfortable and his continuous attempts to humiliate them.

This act of leaving the awards on Kartavya Path symbolizes not only Phogat’s personal protest but also highlights the growing discontent among Indian wrestlers against the Wrestling Federation of India’s leadership and the broader political implications within the sport.

  Arjuna Award, Bajrang Punia, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Indian Olympic Association, Khel Ratna Award, New Delhi, Sakshee Malikkh, Sanjay Singh, Vinesh Phogat, Wrestling, Wrestling Federation of India