“Clicked Without Telling Me, Pretended To Support”: Vinesh Phogat Slams PT Usha, IOA (image-X/crkesavan)
Following her devastating exit from the Paris Olympics 2024 after she failed to meet the weight category by a little over 100 grams, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat slammed PT Usha, the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), and the IOA for their lack of support.
After her disqualification from the Women’s Freestyle 50-kg final of the Paris 2024, Phogat had taken ill and was admitted to a polyclinic in the Olympics village. During this time, PT Usha visited the wrestler and shared a picture of the two on social media. Phogat has now claimed that the picture was clicked without informing her.
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Phogat claimed that she received no support from the President of the IOA during the tough time, although PT Usha claimed otherwise at the time.
“You are on the hospital bed. You don’t know what is happening in life. You are going through the worst phase in your life. At the time, just to show everyone you are standing with me, you click a photo, post it on social media, and claim to stand with me. That’s not how you show support (pretending to). What was it more than (posturing)?” said Phogat during an interview with a local news channel.
The wrestler further stated, “I don’t know what support I got there. PT Usha madam visited me at the hospital. One photo was clicked… Like you said, in politics, a lot happens behind closed doors. Similarly, politics happened there (Paris) as well. That’s why I was heartbroken. Otherwise, a lot of people are saying, ‘Don’t leave wrestling.’ For whom should I continue? There is politics everywhere.”
Earlier, defending the IOA, PT Usha called the criticism towards its medical team and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala as “unacceptable and worthy of condemnation.” She further made a pointed statement where she stated that the responsibility of weight management lay solely on the athlete and their coach.
The President of the IOA’s remarks were heavily criticised by many, calling out PT Usha for throwing Phogat “under the bus” and shifting the blame towards the athletes.
Read Also| “Thrown Under The Bus”: Criticism Over PT Usha’s Remarks On Phogat
The two-time World Championships bronze medallist, ahead of the Haryana assembly elections, joined Congress along with fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia. She will be contesting the elections from Julana, which is presently held by the Jannayak Janta Party’s Amarjeet Dhanda.
The Haryana assembly elections will be held on October 5, and counting of votes will take place on October 8.
