Vinesh Phogat returns her Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award, leaves them on the Kartavya Path

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat returned her Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award on Saturday. She left the awards on the Kartavya Path in the heart of the national capital after being stopped by Delhi Police from reaching the prime minister's office.

In an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vinesh Phogat annouced that she would be returning her awards as these honors have lost significance amid the wrestling community's struggle for justice. On Saturday, after being stopped by the police, Phogat, in protest left the awards at Kartavya Path which were later picked up by the Delhi Police.

Vinesh decided to return her national awards shortly after Sakshi Malik announced her retirement from wrestling and Bajrang Punia returned his Padma Shri in protest. 

Earlier this year, the trio had spearheaded protest demonstrations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the then Wrestling Federation of India President, accused of sexual harassment by several women wrestlers. They had also conveyed their disapproval over the election Sanjay Singh, an aide of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in the recently conducted WFI elections.