Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia on Friday (December 22, 2023) said he will return his Padma Shri award to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a day after former Wrestling Federation of India chief’s close aide Sanjay Singh was elected to the top post of the Indian wrestling body.
Bajrang’s co-wrestler and Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik earlier hung up her boots to protest against the election.
In his X page, Punia wrote: “I am returning my Padma Shri to PM Narendra Modi.”
Sanjay Singh defeated Anita Sheoran 40-7 in a virtually one-sided contest.
However, Prem Chand Lochab, who seemingly got the support of the protesting wrestlers, was elected as the secretary general.
The wrestlers officially ended their protest on June 7 after the Sports Minister assured them none of the family members or close associates of Brij Bhushan would be allowed to enter the WFI election.
