New Delhi: A day after wrestler Sakshi Malik announced her retirement in protest against the appointment of Sanjay Singh, a close associate of Brij Bhushan Singh, as the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India, Bajrang Punia took to Twitter to declare his decision to return his Padma Shri award in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

मैं अपना पद्मश्री पुरस्कार प्रधानमंत्री जी को वापस लौटा रहा हूँ. कहने के लिए बस मेरा यह पत्र है. यही मेरी स्टेटमेंट है। ???????? pic.twitter.com/PYfA9KhUg9

— Bajrang Punia ???????? (@BajrangPunia) December 22, 2023

He expressed, "I am returning my Padma Shri award to the Prime Minister. This tweet serves as my official statement regarding this action."

Sanjay Singh defeated former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anita Sheoran by 40 votes to 7 in the much-awaited WFI elections held in New Delhi on Thursday, December 21. Following Sanjay Singh's election, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Vinesh Phogat addressed a press conference, during which Sakshi announced her intention to quit the sport in protest. "We fought from our heart, but if a man like Brij Bhushan, his business partner, and a close aide is elected as the president of WFI, I give up wrestling. From today onwards, you will not see me on the mat," Sakshi said as she kept her boot with tears in her eyes.

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