Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia took a bold stand against the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) recent elections by leaving his Padma Shri medal on the pavement of Kartavya Path. This symbolic gesture comes in response to the appointment of Sanjay Singh, a loyalist of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, as the president of WFI.
Punia, expressing his dissatisfaction, stated that he could not secure an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi due to a busy schedule. Despite being unable to meet the Prime Minister, Punia reiterated his decision not to take the medal back home.
“I came here to return my award. However, I could not meet with PM because I didn’t have an appointment. PM has a busy schedule. So I am putting my award on the letter written to PM. I will not take this medal to my home,” Punia explained during a conversation with reporters.
Sanjay Singh secured victory in the WFI elections, defeating former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anita Sheoran with a vote tally of 40 to 7. Following Singh’s election, Sakshee Malikkh, Bajrang Punia, and Vinesh Phogat addressed a press conference. Malikkh, expressing her strong disapproval, announced her decision to quit wrestling in protest.
“We fought from our heart, but if a man like Brij Bhushan, his business partner, and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, I give up wrestling. From today onwards you will not see me on the mat,” declared Malikkh emotionally.
The WFI elections, originally scheduled for June and later postponed to August, faced further delays due to a Punjab and Haryana High Court order, extending the stay until September 25. Wrestlers, including Punia and Malikkh, had previously met with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur to discuss concerns related to the WFI elections. The wrestlers had protested against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing the former chief and BJP MP of sexually harassing female wrestlers.
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