Vinesh Phogat responds to Sakshi Malik's 'greed, selfish' remarks that 'hurt the image' of wrestlers' protest

Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik during the wrestlers' protest in New Delhi (ANI/File Photo)

Vinesh Phogat disagreed with Sakshi Malik's view on the former and Bajrang Punia's decision to accept exemption for the Asian Games trials last year, which the 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medallist felt weakened their protest against ex-Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. She also claimed that their protest developed cracks when "people close to" Bajrang and Vinesh began to fill their minds with "greed". Sakshi made the remarks in her recently-released book 'Witness'.

Sakshi, Vinesh, and Bajrang led the protest against Brij Bhushan, then president of WFI, alleging sexual harassment of women wrestlers during his tenure. The case is still being heard in a Delhi court. "The old way of thinking selfishly was taking over once again. The people close to Bajrang and Vinesh had started filling their minds with greed. Now they were talking about this exemption from trials for the Games," Sakshi wrote in the book but did not give names of those who influenced the duo.

Vinesh, who has now retired from the sport and is a Congress MLA, on Tuesday responded to the remarks, stating she doesn't agree with it. "That is her personal opinion. I don't agree with that. Unless I am weak, the fight cannot be weak. This is my belief. Till the time Sakshi, Vinesh and Bajrang are alive, the fight cannot be weak. Those who want to win should never be weak. They should always choose to fight on the field. For that you will have to be tough and face the obstacles. And we are ready for fight," the wrestler-turned-politician told PTI on Tuesday.

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The ad-hoc committee, which took over the administration of wrestling after WFI's suspension, had exempted Bajrang and Vinesh from the 2023 Asian Games trials but Sakshi refused to seek any favours from the body. Sakshi did not compete, Vinesh suffered an injury before the Games, while Bajrang failed to win a medal at the Games held in Hangzhou.

Vinesh, who contested the Haryana Assembly Elections from Julana constituency and won earlier this month, said their fight will continue. "When we were playing, the responsibility of crores of people of the country was on us. Today I am elected (as MLA) from Congress party ... even today the whole nation is looking at us," she said.

"But we can assure you that the fight we fought on the streets and up to Olympics is for all daughters and sisters and for all women who know how to fight and want to fight. Farmers, youth and athletes are the foundation of our country. We will fight till we are alive."

The wrestlers protest, which generated mixed reactions from the public, lasted for months and ended after the wrestlers were manhandled by the authorities during their march towards the new Parliament Building on the day of its inauguration.

Following the protest Vinesh came very close to winning a medal at the Paris Olympics held earlier this year. She was assured of a silver medal but endured a huge setback after being disqualified on the morning of her final bout in the 50kg category due to overweight by 100 grams.

She subsequently retired from the sport and now along with Bajrang has joined the Congress party. Vinesh contested the State Assembly Elections and won from the Julana constituency, while Bajrang was made head of the party's national farmers' unit.