The opposition has been doing a lot of politics around Vinesh Phogat, who was disqualified from the Olympics for being overweight after reaching the final in the 50 Kg category. As part of this politicization, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda stated that if it had been his government, he would have awarded Vinesh a seat in the Rajya Sabha. Following Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s statement, Vinesh Phogat’s uncle Mahavir Phogat, father of famous wrestlers Geeta Phogat and Babita Phogat, has given a befitting reply to the former Haryana CM.
Speaking to reporters, Mahavir Phogat stated, “Geeta won the gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, while Babita won the silver medal. Geeta became the first Indian female wrestler to earn this medal. In 2012, Geeta became the first woman to qualify for the Olympics. When Haryana government was about to nominate Geeta and Babita as DSPs, Hooda Saheb discriminated and selected Geeta as Inspector and Babita as Sub Inspector instead.”
#WATCH चरखी दादरी, हरियाणा: विनेश फोगाट के ताऊ महावीर फोगाट ने कहा, "… 2012 में गीता ने बतौर पहली महिला ओलंपिक क्वालीफाई किया था। जब भूपेंद्र हुड्डा की सरकार और गीता और बबीता को DSP का पद मिलना था लेकिन हुड्डा साहब ने भेदभाव करके गीता को इंस्पेक्टर और बबीता को सब इंस्पेक्टर… https://t.co/ZZas5U0xyh pic.twitter.com/BIX9Nadlcc
— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) August 8, 2024
Phogat further said, “After I filed a case in the court, the court took cognizance of it. When Bhupinder Hooda’s government was in power, Geeta made many records, so why was she not sent to Rajya Sabha?”
Mahavir Phogat said in front of the camera that he feels that Bhupinder Singh Hooda has said all this about Vinesh Phogatonly because of politics.
In a major blow to India’s medal hopes, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Paris Olympics. Notably, during the weigh-in before her gold medal bout against US wrestler Sarah Hildebrandt, she was found 100 grams over the allowed weight limit for wrestlers in the 50 kg freestyle category, resulting in her disqualification. Following her disqualification, the US wrestler took the gold medal while Phogat was asked to leave the Paris Olympics without a medal.
Earlier, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) updated the country about this shocking development and asked everyone to respect Vinesh’s privacy. In a statement, the IOA said, “It is with regret that the Indian contingent shares the news of Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the Women’s Wrestling 50 kg class. Despite the team’s efforts through the night, she was a few grams over 50 kg this morning. No further comments will be made by the contingent at this time. The Indian team requests respect for Vinesh’s privacy and will focus on the ongoing competitions.”
Notably, last year, in August, Vinesh Phogat underwent a ligament tear surgery and during that time, her weight reportedly reached 59 kgs. However, for the Olympic quota of 50 kgs, she reduced her food and water intake considerably even after the doctors had advised her against it as sudden weight loss could lead to weakness and injuries. But she competed in the 50 kg category and had a spectacular outing at the Olympics reaching the final till Tuesday night.
During the Paris Olympics, Vinesh defeated four-time world champion and reigning Olympic Gold medalist but on the last day of the event, she failed to bring her weight down below the allowed limit for one final time, ending up in her disqualification and a major setback for India.
