In a dramatic turn of events, Congress MP Balwant Wankhede has alleged a conspiracy behind the disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat from the 50 kg Olympics wrestling finals. Wankhede's claims come after Phogat, who had been a prominent figure in the protests against former BJP MP Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, was disqualified for being overweight by a few grams, thus losing her chance to secure a silver medal.
Wankhede voiced his concerns on Wednesday, stating, "It is very sad news for us. There is some conspiracy behind this. The entire country knows she was protesting at Jantar Mantar? she did not get justice and now if she wins, they would have had to honour her which some people might not have liked." He suggested that Phogat's disqualification was a result of her outspoken stance against Singh, which could have influenced the decision to deny her a medal, reported by PTI.
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In response to the situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took proactive measures to support Phogat. He reached out to Indian Olympics Association chief PT Usha to discuss potential options for contesting the disqualification. Modi also expressed his solidarity with Phogat on social media, writing on X (formerly Twitter), "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. At the same time, I know that you epitomise resilience. It has always been your nature to take challenges head-on. Come back stronger! We are all rooting for you.?
Phogat?s disqualification and the subsequent loss of her silver medal have reignited discussions about the political and personal pressures influencing sports governance. Phogat had been an outspoken critic of Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, who was removed from his position as the wrestling federation chief amid allegations of sexual harassment. Singh?s political influence remained evident as his son won a Lok Sabha seat on the BJP?s ticket, further complicating the narrative.
The controversy surrounding Phogat?s disqualification highlights ongoing tensions within Indian sports and politics. As the situation unfolds, the wrestling community and supporters are closely watching for further developments and potential actions to address the allegations of conspiracy.
