Vinesh Phogat Retirement: Hours after Vinesh Phogat announced retirement from Wrestling, reactions started to pour in from across political lines hailing the grappler. Phogat's decision to quit wrestling came after she faced disqualification from the 50kg category finals at the Paris Olympics 2024 for being 100 grams overweight in the morning weigh-in.
Reacting to Phogat's retirement, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, in a post on X, said, "This girl is fed up with this system, This girl is tired of fighting..."
Vinesh had scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the gold medal bout in her category on Tuesday night. She was assured of at least a silver medal before the disqualification.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Olympic medallist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said that the grappler should move ahead with a lot of positivity and everyone is with her.
"A sportsman life has years of struggle, ups and downs, then that important day comes to show the skills and win the game, then if this kind of mistake happens, then it is sad and heart breaking. But I want to say to Vinesh (Phogat) that she is young and should face this challenge and move ahead with a lot of positivity. She should face it. We are all with her, a champion is the who stands after falling," Rathore said.
On Phogat's retirement from wrestling, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said, "...I would like to ask her to reconsider her decision."
Reacting to the development, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said, "Yesterday, I went to their house too. It is very sad that the gold medal was taken away just when it was within reach. Her uncle said that they could have weighed her before, or cut her hair earlier. No one paid attention. She is a champion and will remain one; it is not her fault."
Actor turned politician Kangana Ranaut took to Instagram to show her support for Vinesh Phogat. She shared a picture on her Instagram Stories.
The image included the message, “Mat ro Vinesh, aapke saath khada hai pura desh (Don't cry, the whole country is standing beside you)”. Additionally, the 'queen' actor shared a photo of Indian Olympic Association chief PT Usha meeting Vinesh, referring to her as a 'sherni' (lioness).
Vinesh had scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the gold medal bout in her category on Tuesday night.