Vinesh Phogat critiques Modi's response to wrestling federation controversy, refusing politicized call from PM

New Delhi: Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who recently announced her retirement after her disqualification from the Paris 2024 Olympics, revealed that she declined to speak with Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the incident. Now a Congress candidate for the Julana seat in the Haryana assembly elections, Phogat expressed concerns over her emotions and efforts being exploited for political gain.

Conditioned communication

In an interview, Phogat disclosed that although the Prime Minister's office reached out to her through Indian officials, she refused the call. “The call had come, but I refused to speak. The officials informed me that PM Modi wanted to talk. I was prepared; however, they imposed conditions—no one from my team would be present while two representatives from their side would record the conversation for social media,” she explained. Phogat emphasized her reluctance to have her emotions trivialized on such platforms.

Genuine engagement desired

Phogat expressed her desire for a more genuine interaction with Modi. “If he truly cared about athletes, he could have called without recording it, and I would have been grateful,” she remarked. She suggested that Modi’s office set these conditions to control the narrative, fearing she might address her grievances from the past two years directly.

Disappointment over lack of support

Disqualified from the 50kg wrestling final for missing weight by a mere 100 grams, Phogat has been outspoken regarding her disappointment with Modi’s silence on the protests against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former wrestling federation chief and BJP leader. Alongside fellow wrestlers, including Olympic bronze medalist Sakshi Malik, Phogat was a leading figure in the months-long protest demanding justice against Singh.