Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat relinquishes medals amidst allegations of sexual abuse

Vinesh Phogat, a renowned female wrestler in India, has taken a strong stand against alleged sexual harassment of female athletes by returning two of her medals. Phogat, who is highly decorated in her sport, left the awards on a roadside in protest after being denied permission to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She and several other wrestlers have accused Brij Bhushan Singh, the former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), of sexually harassing women wrestlers over a period of several years. Singh has denied these allegations. Phogat recently announced that she will be returning the Khel Ratna award, the highest sporting honor in India which she received in 2020, along with her Arjuna Award, both of which are bestowed by the government. Her intention was to deliver the awards to Modi, but police prevented her from doing so. Phogat feels that these honors have lost their meaning at a time when wrestlers are struggling to obtain justice. Protests by the wrestlers began in January, and Phogat, a two-time World Championship medalist, claims that at least 10 women wrestlers have confided in her about being sexually exploited by Singh. Singh, an influential lawmaker and politician from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), currently faces charges of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation in court. Phogat had previously complained about him to the prime minister in 2021. In May, the wrestlers alleged that they were abused and assaulted by the police while protesting in Delhi. The appointment of a close associate of Singh as the new president of the federation earlier this month led to further angry protests by the wrestlers. Sakshi Malik, another prominent female wrestler, has announced her retirement from the sport in protest against the election of Singh's loyalist. In addition to her sporting achievements at the World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games, Phogat is known for being a vocal critic of the sexist attitudes towards women in sports. She has shared her experiences of facing sexist remarks and overcoming gender stereotypes throughout her successful career as a professional athlete.