In the latest development on the Indian wrestling controversy, Deaflympics gold medallist Virender Singh Yadav has thrown his weight behind Olympians Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, stating that he will return his Padma Shri award to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Wrestling News)
Sakshi had announced her retirement and Bajrang had left his Padma Shri outside the PM's residence in New Delhi, as a mark of protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's close aide Sanjay Singh becoming the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president. Virender has now followed suit.
"I will also return the Padma Shri for my sister and the country's daughter to Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, I am proud of your daughter and my sister Sakshi Malik," Virender wrote on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
ALSO READ: What Sakshi Malik Said
Virender, who is also known by the moniker ‘Goonga Pehelwan’ (the mute wrestler) and uses the same for his social media handle, urged prominent sports personalities Sachin Tendulkar and Neeraj Chopra to take a stand on the matter. "I would also request the top players of the country to give their decision," Virender wrote in his post, tagging cricket legend Sachin and Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj.
Virender had received the Padma Shri, the country's fourth highest civilian award, in 2021. Before that, he was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2015.
Earlier, Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Bajrang had posted on X: "I am returning my Padmashree award to the Prime Minister. This is just my letter to say. This is my statement," along with a letter describing the sequence of events that led to his move.
On Thursday, December 21, Sanjay was elected as the president of the WFI after the panel led by him won 13 of the 15 posts. Sakshi, Bajrang and Vinesh Phogat had sought that no loyalist of Brij Bhushan should enter the federation.
The three top wrestlers have accused Brij Bhushan of sexually harassing several woman wrestlers. They had earlier contemplated throwing away their medals into river Ganga on May 30 in Haridwar, but farmer leaders had later convinced them not to take that step.
