A top Indian male wrestler, Bajrang Punia, has announced his decision to return a prestigious state award in protest against the election of a new president to the sport’s ruling body. The new president was backed by Punia’s predecessor, who has been accused of sexually harassing female wrestlers. Punia, the first Indian wrestler to win four world championship medals, was awarded the Padma Shri – the fourth highest civilian award in India – in 2019 for his athletic achievements.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Punia stated that he could not accept the respect bestowed upon him by the Indian government while women wrestlers were being insulted. Punia’s decision came shortly after Sanjay Singh was elected as the chair of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), with support from former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh.
Brij Bhushan Singh, who is also a six-time parliamentarian from Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has denied the allegations made against him. However, the case is currently awaiting trial. At the moment, there has been no official response from the government regarding Punia’s letter to Modi.
Female wrestlers protesting against Brij Bhushan Singh’s involvement expressed their shock and disappointment that someone backed by him was allowed to lead the WFI. One prominent female wrestler, Sakshi Malik, announced her retirement from the sport during a news conference in New Delhi, stating that their protests were being overlooked.
Punia had previously joined the female wrestlers in their protests against Brij Bhushan Singh, who was charged in June with sexually harassing six female athletes. As a result, the sport ministry stripped him of his administrative powers, and the government promised to investigate the allegations and protect the female athletes. The United World Wrestling (UWW), the global governing body for the sport, suspended the WFI following the scandal.
The WFI failed to appoint a new president by the August deadline, resulting in Indian wrestlers participating in global events as neutral athletes. Opposition parties have criticized Modi’s government for its response to the allegations, which have garnered international attention amidst a series of scandals surrounding the treatment of women in sports.
Punia’s decision to return his state award serves as a strong statement against the election of the new WFI president supported by his predecessor, who faces serious allegations. The controversy surrounding the leadership of the WFI and the allegations of sexual harassment have highlighted the need for greater accountability and measures to protect women athletes in India’s sporting landscape.
