What coach Mahavir Phogat had to say after Vinesh Phogat joined the Congress

New Delhi:

Wrestling coach Mahavir Singh Phogat has expressed disappointment over his niece Vinesh Phogat’s decision to join the Congress party. Mahavir Phogat said he could have postponed the move until after the 2028 Olympics, suggesting his focus should have been on securing a gold medal for India.

Vinesh, who faced disqualification during the Paris Olympics in 2024 for being overweight by just 100 grams, has now stepped off the mat into the political arena and is set to contest the Haryana assembly elections from Julana next month. Acknowledging his achievements in wrestling, Mahavir Phogat said the country had hoped for an Olympic gold medal on him, and he felt his transition to politics came too soon.

“He did very well in the Paris Olympics but was disqualified in the final. It is my personal opinion that he should participate in the 2028 Olympics. Gold medal is my dream; he did not get it but the people of India gave him immense love. And they expected a gold from him, I regret the decision he took, but he could have taken it after the 2028 Olympics, Mahavir Phogat told ANI.

Dronacharya awardee Mahavir Phogat said there was no prior discussion or plan about his entry into politics. He also hinted that Vinesh and fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia, who has joined the Congress, had no initial intention to contest the election.

“There was no such plan before. Neither Bajrang nor he had this idea. I don’t know how the Congress did it, but it had no intention of contesting the elections before,” he added.

Mahavir Phogat also addressed the issue of his daughter Babita Phogat not getting a BJP ticket in the upcoming elections.

He said, “Not everyone gets a ticket. The decision taken by the team has been taken thoughtfully. Whatever the team decides, it should be accepted.”

Vinesh Phogat recently announced his retirement from wrestling before joining the Congress. The Olympian said, “There is nothing greater in the eyes of men than winning.”

“It feels good, people are very excited, the responsibility we have been given, the Congress party has sent us here as candidates, so people are giving us love and supporting us. Our people will win me, and I am the winner in their eyes, so something bigger than that. Can’t be,” said Vinesh Phogat, quoted by news agency ANI.

Elections to the 90-member Haryana Assembly will be held on October 5 while the counting of votes will be scheduled on October 8. In the 2019 elections, BJP won 40 seats and Congress won 30 seats.