Vinesh Phogat, one of India’s top wrestlers at the Paris Olympics 2024, was dealt with a heartbreak after being denied a sure-shot silver medal and a potential gold because she failed to pass the weigh-in ahead of the final bout. In the aftermath of the heartbreaking event, Vinesh announced her retirement from wrestling and a month after that, she also announced her arrival into the politica; scene by joining the Congress party. Now, Vinesh has accused PT Usha, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President, for not providing ample support to the wrestler in Paris.
The Haryana-born wrestler has accused the IOA of failing to support her during her challenging journey in Paris. She also criticised PT Usha, alleging that she was only interested in taking photos with her in the hospital, rather than offering any meaningful assistance.
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Vinesh Phogat Accuses PT Usha Of Political Posturing
In an interview with a local news channel called AAA Media, Vinesh expressed that PT Usha visited her at the hospital she was taken to after she fainted in the Olympics Village and a picture was clicked without Vinesh knowing about it. She said it was all the political posturing that goes on behind closed doors.
"I don't know what support I got there. PT Usha madam visited me at the hospital. One photo was clicked...like you said, in politics a lot happens behind closed doors. Similarly, politics happened there as well. That's why I was heartbroken. Otherwise a lot of people are saying 'don't leave wrestling'. For what should I continue! There is politics everywhere," said Phogat while talking to AAA Media.
"You are on a hospital bed, where you don't know what's happening in life outside, you are going through one of the worst phases of your life. At that place, just to show everyone you are standing with me, aap bina bataye photo kheench rahe ho, fir social media pe daal ke bol rahe ho hum saath mein khade hain (clicked a photo without telling me and then putting it on social media to say you are standing with me). That's not how you show support. What was it more than that!,” she added.
Watch the video of her lashing out at the IOA and PT Usha below:
'I filed my case on my own': Vinesh Phogat On Not Getting Enough Support From Indian Government
After her disqualification from the Olympics, Vinesh appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) to be awarded a joint silver medal. However, after a week-long hearing, the CAS ruling did not go in her favour, leaving her empty-handed from Paris. Reflecting on the situation, she expressed disappointment that the Government of India only joined the case after she had filed it herself, suggesting they should have taken action earlier on her behalf.
“I filed my case on my own. Harish Salve sir joined the next day. The lawyers who were in Paris filed that case on my behalf. It was not done from the Government of India, they acted as a third party. I was there to represent India there, hence it was their duty to file it,” Vinesh said.