I wanted her to participate in one more Olympics : Mahavir Phogat as Vinesh joins Congress

New Delhi: Mahavir Phogat, the former wrestling coach and uncle of Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat, has expressed strong disapproval of his niece's decision to enter politics. In a recent interview with India Today, Mahavir Phogat articulated his belief that Vinesh should have continued to focus on her wrestling career instead of joining the political arena.

“I wanted Vinesh to participate in one more Olympics and secure a gold medal,” Mahavir Phogat said. “She should have concentrated on achieving her Olympic goals before making the transition into politics.” His comments reflect his dissatisfaction with Vinesh’s choice to retire from wrestling and her recent political foray.

Focus on olympic goals over politics

Mahavir Phogat’s remarks underline his disappointment that Vinesh Phogat, who has been a prominent figure in Indian wrestling, chose to retire prematurely. He emphasized that Vinesh should have used the remaining years of her career to compete in another Olympic Games and strive for a gold medal. “At this age, Vinesh could have participated in one more Olympics. I wanted her to win a gold medal this time,” Mahavir Phogat stated.

Protests were against Brij Bhushan: Phogat

When questioned about the connection between Vinesh Phogat’s protests against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and her political career, Mahavir Phogat clarified that the protests were personal and not politically motivated. He explained, “The protests were against Brij Bhushan. It has nothing to do with politics. The discussions about Vinesh joining the Congress party started only after the elections were announced.”

This statement suggests that Mahavir Phogat views the protests as a separate issue from Vinesh’s political ambitions. His position indicates a clear distinction between Vinesh’s wrestling career and her subsequent political actions.

Wrestler nominated for Haryana assembly elections

Vinesh Phogat’s recent announcement of her retirement from wrestling came after her disqualification from the 2024 Olympics. At that time, Mahavir Phogat had urged her to reconsider her decision, suggesting that she would eventually overcome the disappointment of missing the Paris Games. Despite his advice, Vinesh decided to pivot her career and joined the Congress party.

On Friday, Vinesh Phogat officially joined the Congress party and was nominated to contest from the Julana constituency in the Haryana Assembly elections scheduled for October 5, 2024. Her decision to enter politics has sparked significant interest, particularly as her fellow wrestler, Bajrang Punia, who also joined the Congress, was not given a ticket.

Vinesh’s new political chapter

Following her political debut, Vinesh Phogat shared her motivation for joining the Congress party. “It was only the Congress party that understood our tears. This is a new chapter in my life. I will work for other athletes so that they don’t have to go through what we went through,” she said.

Vinesh’s shift from a celebrated sports career to a political role represents a significant transition and raises questions about the intersection of sports and politics in India.