Vinesh Phogat makes serious allegations against IOA president PT Usha after joining Congress: 'Politics happened in Paris'

Vinesh Phogat and PT Usha in a clinic at the Games Village in Paris

Vinesh Phogat's heartbreak at the Paris Olympics has taken a new twist as the grappler has made serious allegations against the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president president PT Usha. Vinesh was disqualified from participating further at the Games after failing to meet her weight of 50 kgs and was overweight by 100 grams. The disqualification came on the morning of her gold medal bout, following she missed out on her assured silver medal as well. Vinesh appealed against the decision to the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS), which heard her case but ruled the verdict against the grappler.

Vinesh after returning to India got a rousing reception and was also presented with a gold medal at her village Balali, which falls under Dadri district. Days later the grappler joined Congress and will be seen contesting the Haryana Assembly Elections from the Julana constituency. As the state gears up for a political showdown, Vinesh has been talking to reporters and sharing her views on the turn of events at Paris. In one such interview to a local news channel, she remarked a lot of politics happened at the Games Village, contradicting to what was informed by the IOA.

The sports body had earlier said that they will give complete support to the wrestler after her disqualification, but Vinesh has alleged she received no support, which was promised.

"I don't know what support I got there," said the wrestler.

Vinesh subsequently retired from the sport following her disqualification and many, including her uncle Mahavir Phogat, have expressed that she should have continued with the sport and focused on winning a gold medal in the next edition, which will be held at Los Angeles in 2028.

"PT Usha madam visited me at the hospital. One photo was clicked... like you said a in politics a lot happens behind closed door. 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," she said on the same.

BIG EXPOSE BY VINESH PHOGATWhen Vinesh Phogat was in the hospital after disqualification, PT Usha gone there just to click a picture with her.PT Usha clicked a picture of Vinesh without her permission to post it on Social Media and left from there without saying anything. pic.twitter.com/53xQVwDMvu
Newton (@newt0nlaws) September 10, 2024

Vinesh also said that the viral photo of her with PT Usha, which was clicked in a clinic while she was hospitalised at the Games Village was done without her knowledge. "You are on a hospital bed, where you don't know what's happening outside, you are going through one of your 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 k bol rahe ho hum saath mein khade hain (clicked a photo without telling me and then putting it on social media to say that you're standing with me).

"That's not how you support. What was it more than (posturing)," she said.

Vinesh will now be seen in a political tussle against BJP's Yogesh Bairagi from the Julana constituency.