Vinesh Phogat returns Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards, leaves them at Kartavya Path

Vinesh Phogat returns her Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award in protest against sexual harassment allegations within the Wrestling Federation of India and lack of justice for wrestlers.

Multiple World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat on Saturday returned her Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award, keeping the two awards lying in the middle of national capital's Kartavya Path after Delhi Police stopped her from reaching the Prime Minister's office.

On Tuesday, the Asian Games gold medallist grappler had decided to return her Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award to the government, saying such honours have become meaningless at a time when wrestlers are struggling to get justice.

Ms. Phogat had announced her decision in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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On Saturday, she attempted to reach the Prime Minister's office to return her awards but the police prevented her from reaching the PMO.

As a mark of protest, she left the awards at the Kartavya Path and they were later picked up by Delhi Police.

Ms. Phogat, along with Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, had protested against the election of Sanjay Singh, a close aide of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who had been accused of sexual harassment by the three well-known grapplers.