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Bajrang Punia
Bajrang Punia to return Padma Shri to PM Narendra Modi to protest WFI chief's election. Photo Courtesy: Bajrang Punia X page

WFI chief Sanjay Singh's election: Bajrang Punia says he will return Padma Shri to PM Modi

| @indiablooms | Dec 23, 2023, at 12:31 am

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.

On 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.

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