Picture Credit: X

Picture Credit: X

De aflympics medallist Virender Singh, who is popularly known as “Goonga Pahalwan” spoke out loud on his Khel Ratna snub after the President Droupadi Murmu presented the prestigious National Sports Awards on Tuesday, 9th January at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Also Read: Virender Singh Yadav announces returning Padma Shri in solidarity with protesting wrestlers

Singh, who was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2021 took to social media to address his Khel Ratna snub despite having won three Deaflympics gold medals in wrestling. In his post, he tagged the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as Sports Minister Anurag Thakur as he expressed his disappointment over not winning the highest sporting honour in the country.

The Haryana-born wrestler also alleged that the state government had not given him the promised cash reward of INR 8 Crore for his contribution in the sport over the years.

Speaking of Singh, the decorated wrestler from India has won three gold medals in Deaflympics in 2005, 2013 and 2017. He recently won a bronze in the 2021 edition of the Deaflympic in Caxias do Sul in Brazil with his previous bronze coming in 2009. Yadav has also won the Arjuna Award, the second highest sporting award in the country.    

Off late, the Indian wrestler stood in support of the senior wrestler in Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik during their protest against the newly elected Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). After Bajrang Punia had returned his Padma Shri, Singh also promised the same as a mark of the protest.