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          Indian Sports Highlights, December 26: Vinesh Phogat returns Khel Ratna, Arjuna awards

          Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat have been exempted from selection trials for the Asian Games. Raj K Raj/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
          • ESPN staffDec 25, 2023, 10:00 PM ET

          ESPN India's daily live blog is your handy guide for everything to do with the wide world of Indian sport. We have the latest updates and analysis from the entire bouquet of Olympic and franchise sports with an Indian bent. The blog is updated throughout the day, so keep checking back to catch up on news you may have missed.

          Here are all the key updates from December 26, Tuesday:

          ISL: Krishna strike lifts Odisha to third

          Odisha FC moved up to third in the ISL standings with a goal from Roy Krishna in the first half proving to be the pivotal moment in the game, after an assist by Isak Ralte.

          Sergio Lobera's men controlled large parts of the game and might be disappointed by not winning by a bigger margin, but it was a result that took them to within two points of the ISL summit, although league leaders FC Goa have played two games less than Odisha so far.

          PKL: Puneri Paltan win fourth game in a row, beat Patna Pirates by 18 points

          Puneri Paltan picked up their fourth win on the trot as they beat Patna Pirates 46-28 in the Pro Kabaddi League [PKL 10] game today. Pankaj Mohite was the gamechanger as he starred with a Super 10, while Abinesh Nadarajan finished with a High 5. The Puneri Paltan were playing for the first time since their home leg concluded last week and dominated the game from the start. The game also saw a special performance from their Iranian all-rounder Mohammadreza Shadlou as he donned the role of a raider and picked up four points in two raids and then single-handedly completed an ALL OUT with a fine tackle on Sudhakar M.

          The win sees Puneri Paltan solidify their position at the top of the PKL points table and they are the only team to have won six games so far.

          Vinesh to return Khel Ratna, Arjuna awards

          Vinesh Phogat, a two-time Olympian and World Championships bronze medallist, has decided to return her Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards in protest to the lack of action being taken to the issues plaguing Indian wrestling. Vinesh was among the prominent faces of the wrestlers' protest against the Wrestling Federation of India and its former chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and her decision comes a couple of days after Bajrang Punia left his Padma Shri award at the gates of the Prime Minister's residence.

          Sanjay Singh was elected as the WFI president, but the Federation was soon suspended by the Sports Ministry due to its "blatant disregard for norms and the sports code."

          Since the WFI elections -

          • Sakshi Malik has retired from wrestling

          • Bajrang Punia has returned his Padma Shri award

          • Vinesh Phogat has announced she will return her Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Arjuna awards

          What's on today?

          • Gameweek 12 of the ISL kicks off with Punjab FC hosting Odisha FC.

          • PKL action continues in Chennai as Puneri Paltan take on Patna Pirates.

          • The first Test match between South Africa gets underway in Centurion.

          • More possible updates from Indian wrestling as the WFI stands suspended by the Sports Ministry.

          What happened yesterday?

          • PKL: Dabang Delhi earned a comfortable win over Bengal Warriors, while the Haryana Steelers handed Tamil Thalaivas their fourth successive loss.

          You can check all the details of yesterday's news events here.