Vinesh Phogat: From the wrestling mat to the political arena… Vinesh Phogat’s life changed like this in a month

Star Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has entered politics. Vinesh joined the Congress party on 6 September (Friday). Along with Vinesh, wrestler Bajrang Punia also joined the Congress. Vinesh-Bajrang also recently met former Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. Vinesh and Bajrang are likely to contest elections in the Haryana Assembly. According to speculations, Vinesh may be given a ticket from Dadri. At the same time, Bajrang can be fielded from a Jat dominated seat.

Vinesh Phogat’s entry into politics is going to surprise. Exactly a month ago, on August 6, she was showing her strength in the Paris Olympics 2024, but now after a month, on September 6, her political debut is going to happen. There have been many ups and downs in Vinesh’s life in the last one month. First, Vinesh reached the final of the Paris Olympics. Gold was expected from Vinesh in the final, but something untoward happened before that.

Vinesh was disqualified on the day of the final match due to being 100 grams overweight. After being disqualified, Vinesh retired from wrestling. However, Vinesh had hinted at returning to the mat again through an Instagram post. On the other hand, Vinesh Phogat had also appealed against this decision in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and demanded that she be given a joint silver medal.

However, CAS rejected the appeal of star wrestler Vinesh Phogat. Then Vinesh returned home. After returning home, she was given a warm welcome. Vinesh played her first match in the Paris Olympics on 6 August. Then after that, now on 6 September, she has entered politics. If seen, this one month has been like sometimes happiness and sometimes sadness for Vinesh. Let’s know what happened in these one day…

6 August 2024
Vinesh Phogat played three matches in the 50 kg weight category on August. She defeated Tokyo Olympics (2020) champion Yui Susaki 3-2 in the pre-quarterfinals. Then Vinesh defeated Ukrainian female wrestler Oxana Livach 7-5 in the quarterfinals and Cuban wrestler Yusnelis Guzman 5-0 in the semi-finals.

7 August 2024
After this, Indian fans were hoping that Vinesh Phogat would create history by winning the final match because India has not been able to win any Olympic gold in wrestling so far. But the news that came around 12 o’clock on August 7 surprised the fans. Vinesh was disqualified from the Paris Olympics. Actually, when her weight was measured before the final match, her weight was found to be 100 grams more than what is required to play in the 50 kg category.

According to reports, after the semi-final match, Vinesh’s weight had increased to 52.70 kg. After this, her medical team tried to reduce Vinesh’s weight overnight. Vinesh did skipping and cycling all night and even cut her nails. Vinesh’s weight did reduce, but despite all the efforts, her weight remained stuck at 50.10 kg. First the news of Vinesh being disqualified came. Then the news of her fainting came out.

Vinesh was admitted to the polyclinic of the Olympic Village due to dehydration. However, Vinesh was discharged after a few hours. After this, an application was given by Vinesh Phogat on 7 August 2024 at 8:15 am Indian time. Vinesh Phogat appealed to CAS and said that she should be given a silver medal in this event. CAS was established to resolve any dispute arising during the 10-day period before the Olympic Games or the opening ceremony.

8 August 2024
On 8 August, Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement. She gave this information by posting on social media. Vinesh Phogat then said that mother won the wrestling over me. I lost, sorry, your dream, my courage, everything is broken. I don’t have more strength now. Goodbye wrestling 2001-2024. She apologized and said that I will always be indebted to all of you.

9 August 2024
On August 9, the ad hoc division of CAS registered the application in the case of Vinesh Phogat. An Australian judge was appointed to arbitrate Vinesh’s case. A press release was issued by CAS in this case and a big update related to it was given. Vinesh’s case was registered as CAS OG 24/17 Vinesh Phogat vs United World Wrestling (UWW) and International Olympic Committee (IOC).

In Vinesh’s case, 4 CAS lawyers represented her, including Joel Monluis, Estelle Ivanova, Habin Estelle Kim and Charles Amson, who represented Vinesh Phogat in the CAS hearing. Later, former Solicitor General of India Harish Salve also appeared online in CAS on behalf of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in the Vinesh Phogat disqualification case.

Then CAS completed the hearing of the entire case on 9 August. However, the ad hoc division of CAS extended the deadline to give the decision till 9.30 pm Indian time on 10 August. That is, the wait for the decision on whether Vinesh will get the medal or not has increased a bit.

10 August 2024
On August 10, another update came in the matter of Vinesh getting the medal. Where the date for the decision on whether Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat will get silver or not was extended again. This case was mediated by Australian judge Dr. Annabelle Bennett. Usually the ad-hoc panel is given 24 hours to give the verdict. But in this case, more time was taken to give the verdict.

14 August 2024
Finally, on August 14, CAS rejected the appeal of star wrestler Vinesh Phogat. This meant that Vinesh did not get the silver medal. Vinesh had the option to challenge this decision of the court. According to the CAS website, any decision of CAS can be challenged, but on ‘very limited grounds’. The CAS website states, ‘Judicial assistance in the Swiss Federal Tribunal is provided only on very limited grounds, such as lack of jurisdiction, violation of rules (such as violation of the right to a fair hearing).’

16 August 2024
Then on August 16, Vinesh Phogat released an emotional post. She expressed her grief and struggle through her post. Phogat mentioned many things in the post, mentioning her journey, her uncertain future and possible goals for 2032. Vinesh thanked and expressed gratitude to all those who played an important role in her journey to Paris Olympics 2024. In her post, Vinesh recalled her initial dreams, her father’s hopes and her mother’s struggles. She credited her husband Somveer for supporting her through every ups and downs.

The female wrestler wrote in the last part of the post, ‘Maybe under different circumstances I will be able to see myself playing till 2032, because the fight and wrestling will always be in me. I cannot predict what the future holds for me and what will happen next in this journey, but I am sure that I will always keep fighting for what I believe in and what is right.’

17 August 2024
After this, Vinesh returned home from Paris on 17 August. Vinesh went to her native village Balali from Delhi. She was given a warm welcome while going to Balali. Seeing the grand welcome, Vinesh Phogat became emotional. Addressing the people, Vinesh said, ‘All the people who are welcoming us. So what if they did not give us the gold medal. Our own people have honored us with more than gold. This honor pales in front of thousands of gold medals.’

30 August 2024
Vinesh Phogat reached Amritsar on 30 August and she went to Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) and paid obeisance. During this time, people associated with the Gurudwara Management Committee were also seen with Phogat, who handed over a sword and a replica of the Golden Temple to her. Phogat had said during this time – I feel very good coming here, I am feeling positive energy … I have prayed to Waheguru to give me strength. Phogat further said – Who knows about the future … I am among my people today, this is my medal … I am happy.

4 September 2024
Then on September 4, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia met the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. It was only after this meeting that there were indications that Vinesh will now play a political innings.