Wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Friday returned her Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards at New Delhi’s Kartavya Path in protest against the alleged mistreatment of women wrestlers in the country. The athlete placed the medals outside the Prime Minister's Office (PMO)  after Delhi Police prevented her from reaching the PMO. Phogat, an Asian Games gold medallist grappler, had initially declared her decision to return the awards in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this week. 



The wrestler expressed her belief that such honours had lost their significance at a time when wrestlers faced difficulties in obtaining justice.


According to news agency PTI, Phogat made a symbolic attempt to return the awards personally, only to be stopped by the police. As a mark of protest, she left the Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award trophies at Kartavya Path, where they were subsequently picked up by Delhi Police.


In her letter posted on X (formerly Twitter), Phogat highlighted the stark contrast between the glittering narratives of government advertisements on women's empowerment and the harsh realities of their lives. She asserted that their struggles were far from the idealised images portrayed in official campaigns.



The protest is linked to a broader controversy in Indian wrestling, involving the election of Sanjay Singh as the head of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Singh, a close associate of former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, faced allegations of sexual harassment by Phogat and fellow Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia.


Sakshi Malik, in response to Singh's appointment, announced her retirement from wrestling. The Sports Ministry later intervened, suspending the newly-elected panel for non-compliance with its constitution and urged the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to establish an ad-hoc committee to oversee the WFI's affairs.


Acting in line with the sports ministry's directive, the IOA formed a three-member ad-hoc committee on Wednesday to manage the daily operations of the WFI.


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Modi Govt Subjected Vinesh Phogat To Harassment: Congress


The latest act of protest has drawn sharp criticism from the Congress party, which accused the government of harassing the athlete. 



The Congress in a social media post stated, "A day of shame for the country. After wrestler Bajrang Punia, now the daughter who brought medals for the country, Vinesh Phogat, has returned her Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award outside the Prime Minister's Office. PM Modi and his government have subjected her to such harassment that she is compelled to take this step today."


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