Former India wrestler who faced disappointment at the Paris Olympics has accused Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha for not providing the support she needed after a tragic end to her gold medal hopes at the Games last month.
Vinesh became the first Indian woman to qualify for the final of wrestling event in Olympic history. However, on the morning of the doubt, she weighed 100 grams more than the permissible limit and was disqualified. After he gold medal hopes were dashed, the wrestler was taken to the hospital where PT Usha visited her. The 30-year-old is not happy with a photo being taken without her knowing.
"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 (in Paris) 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 in an interview with 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 (posturing)!,” she added.
Vinesh claims she field the petition for silver medal herself
After the dust settled, Vinesh field a petition in the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) to give her a joint silver medal for reaching the final. Vinesh said that she filed the case herself before lawyers reached Paris. However, CAS did not rule in Vinesh's favour as she returned home empty-handed.
“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,” she said.
Vinesh joins politics
Now, Vinesh has started her political career. She has resigned from her position at Indian Railways and joined Indian National Congress (INC) party. She will contest Assembly Elections from Julana constituency.
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