May 12, 2025 04:56 pm (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Military bases, equipment, systems operational, ready for next mission if required: Armed Forces on Operation Sindoor | India's cricket icon Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket | Secretary of State Marco Rubio says US position on Russia-Ukraine war remains on reaching 'immediate ceasefire' | Trade war de-escalation: US, China decide to roll back most tariffs for 90 days | India and Pakistan agreed to stop military actions: Govt confirms Trump's ceasefire claim | India, Pakistan have reached full and immediate ceasefire: Donald Trump announces on Truth Social | 'Frivolous allegation': India dismisses Pakistan's 'Indian missiles hit Afghanistan' disinformation | India opposes IMF's proposal to extend fresh loans to Pakistan, abstains from voting | Fresh Pakistani drones target Jammu, Samba and Pathankot; explosion heard in Pokhran | PM Modi meets all three service chiefs amid escalated tensions with Pakistan
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.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.