Vinesh Phogat

With regard to wrestler Vinesh Phogat's return of her Khel Ratna and Arjuna medals, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi poked fun at Prime Minister Narendra Modi by stating that "for every daughter of the country, self-respect comes first and any other medal or honour comes after that".

Wrestler VineshPhogat's decision comes days after Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia and Deafylmpics champion Virender Singh Yadav returned their Padma Shri awards despite the government suspending newly elected WFI.

The Asian Games are scheduled to commence in Hangzhou, China on September 23 and IOA is required to submit the names of the competing athletes by July 15.

Earlier, the United World Wrestling sent a warning to hold the WFI elections within the 45-day deadline or face suspension. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) too has been made aware of the development.

BJP MP and WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is facing allegations of sexually harassing female wrestlers, on Sunday said he will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Kaiserganj seat again.

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had assured the protesting wrestlers that a charge sheet will be filed in the case by June 15 after which the grapplers suspended their protest.

The complaints detail numerous allegations of sexual harassment, inappropriate touching, groping, stalking, and intimidation spanning over a decade, both within India and in foreign countries.

The IOC's reaction follows the United World Wrestling's (UWW) criticism of the detention of the grapplers during their protest at Jantar Mantar, in which the sport's world body threatened to suspend the national federation if it fails to hold its election within the stipulated time.

On May 28, the Delhi Police detained wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, and later filed FIRs against the wrestlers for violation of law and order.

The wrestlers had announced they would immerse their medals in the river in Haridwar as a mark of protest to demand action against BJP MP and WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. But the wrestlers did not carry out the threat after farmer leaders sought five days' time from them to resolve the issue.