Blaming the coaches and support staff of India’s wrestling contingent in Paris for Vinesh Phogat’s weight increase that resulted in her disqualification from this year’s Olympics, Wrestling Federation of India president Sanjay Singh urged the central government to take strict action against those responsible.
“Vinesh, you are a champion among champions! You are India’s pride and an inspiration for each and every Indian. Today’s setback hurts. I wish words could express the sense of despair that I am experiencing”, wrote PM Modi as he praised her resilience.
According to the rules set by the parent body, United World Wrestling (UWW), if a wrestler fails the weigh-in before the competition, they are immediately disqualified and placed in the last position.
Sanjay Singh said it was Vignesh’s coaches’ responsibility to ensure she was within 50kgs before the gold medal bout. “I don’t think Vinesh is at fault here. She was performing wonderfully, and the entire responsibility here is of her coach and the supporting staff. A probe should be done to see how her weight increased. I urge the central government to take strict action against them (the coach and the supporting staff),” he told.
Vinesh Phogat was at the forefront of a lengthy protest against former BJP MP Brijbhushan Singh, who has faced multiple allegations of sexual harassment from women wrestlers.
In January last year, 30 wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Anshu Malik, and Bajrang Punia, protested at Jantar Mantar demanding action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was removed as the wrestling federation chief. The BJP didn’t field Singh in the 2024 Lok Sabha election and gave a ticket to his son Karan Bhushan Singh instead.
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