Bajrang Punia returns Padma Shri in protest against WFI election

Chandigarh, India: In a stunning act of defiance, Olympic medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia has announced he is returning his prestigious Padma Shri award in protest against the recent Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections. This dramatic move comes just hours after fellow wrestler Sakshi Malik tearfully announced her retirement from the sport, citing the same reason.

The controversy stems from the election of Sanjay Singh, a close aide of the controversial former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, as the new president. This result sparked outrage among several prominent wrestlers, including Punia and Malik, who had previously accused Singh's patron of sexual harassment and corruption.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Punia expressed his deep disappointment and disillusionment. He lamented that despite months of peaceful protests and promises of action, no concrete steps were taken against Singh. He further highlighted the immense pressure women wrestlers faced, forcing Malik's heartbreaking decision to quit.

"We shed tears the entire night. We did not understand what to do, or where to go. The government has given us a lot. I was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2019. I also received the Arjuna, Khel Ratna award. When I got these awards, I was on cloud nine. But today the sadness weighs more. And the reason is a woman wrestler left the sport because of her security," Punia wrote in his emotional statement.

He concluded by stating that he feels incapable of living with the honor while women wrestlers feel unsafe and disrespected. Therefore, he returned the Padma Shri as a symbolic gesture of protest and solidarity.

Malik's retirement announcement was equally poignant. "Yeh ladai dil se ladi (We fought this battle with our heart)," she told reporters, thanking supporters but expressing her despair at the WFI's outcome. "If Brij Bhushan Singh's business partner and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, I quit wrestling," she declared, leaving with tears in her eyes.

Vinesh Phogat, another renowned wrestler, also voiced her anger and fear, questioning the presence of Singh and his potential influence on the future of women's wrestling.

These dramatic developments have thrown the Indian wrestling scene into turmoil. Punia's sacrifice and Malik's retirement raise serious questions about governance and athlete safety within the WFI. It remains to be seen how the authorities will respond to these powerful protests and what consequences, if any, will be faced by those implicated in the accusations.

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