Vinesh Phogat Accuses IOA and PT Usha of Offering No Real Support During Her Paris Olympics Struggle

India's legendary wrestler Vinesh Phogat has accused Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha of not giving enough support during her tragic journey at the Paris Olympics 2024. Vinesh became the first Indian woman to qualify for the wrestling final at the Olympic Games. The 30-year-old wrestler had ensured at least a silver medal after qualifying for the final of the women's 50kg freestyle category.

However, her journey ended in tragedy as she was found to be 100 grams overweight and was disqualified just before the final. Thus her dream of winning a medal in her last Olympics was shattered. Although the whole country stood by her in this difficult time, Vinesh has accused the Indian Olympic Association of not supporting her during her difficult journey. Vinesh has accused PT Usha of just clicking pictures with her and not helping her.

Vinesh said in an interview with AAA Media, “I don't know what support I got there. PT Usha Madam visited me in the hospital. A photo was clicked... As you said, a lot happens behind closed doors in politics. Similarly, there was politics there (in Paris). That's why I was heartbroken. Otherwise, a lot of people are saying don't quit wrestling. Why should I continue it? There is politics everywhere.”

Vinesh said, “You are on a hospital bed, where you don't know what is happening outside. You are going through the worst phase of your life. At that place, just to show everyone that you are standing with me, you click photos without telling me and then you start saying on social media that you are standing together. You don't show support like this. What was their pose more than getting a photo clicked!”

After being disqualified from the competition, the Indian wrestler also appealed against his disqualification in the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) to win the joint silver medal. However, after a week of the hearing, the CAS decision also did not come in her favour and she had to return empty-handed from Paris. Reflecting on the entire incident, Vinesh said that the Indian government should have filed the case on her behalf, but they got involved only after she filed it herself.

Vinesh said, “I filed my case myself. Harish Salve sir got involved the next day. The lawyers present in Paris filed the case on my behalf. It was not from the Indian government, they acted as a third party. I went there to represent India, so it was their duty to file it.” A day after being disqualified from the Games, Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling. She has recently entered politics and joined the Indian National Congress.