Vinesh Phogat has openly criticized Indian Olympic Association (IOA) chief PT Usha, accusing her of using a hospital visit for political gain by taking photos without providing meaningful support. Vinesh, one of India’s top medal contenders, was disqualified from the women’s 50kg wrestling gold medal bout at the Paris Olympics after missing the weigh-in by just 100 grams.
Despite her efforts, which included drastic measures like cutting her hair and staying up all night to lose weight, Vinesh was disqualified according to United World Wrestling (UWW) rules. All her previous results were invalidated, leaving her devastated. Exhausted from the weight loss attempts, Vinesh was taken to a medical facility in the Paris Games village, where PT Usha visited her and promised support. A photo from their meeting was shared on social media and quickly went viral.
However, Vinesh expressed disappointment, saying she received no real help from the IOA. She claimed the photo was taken without her consent and accused Usha of using it for publicity. “I was lying in a hospital bed, going through one of the toughest times of my life, and she took a picture without asking me. Then it was posted online, as if to show she was supporting me. But that’s not real support, it was just for show,” Vinesh told a local news channel.
Vinesh also spoke about how the incident left her heartbroken. “PT Usha madam visited me, took a photo… Like in politics, much happens behind closed doors, and the same thing happened there in Paris. That’s why I felt so let down. People keep telling me not to quit wrestling, but what’s the point? There’s politics everywhere,” she said.
Shortly after, Vinesh announced her retirement from wrestling, despite an appeal filed by the IOA with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). A few days later, CAS rejected the appeal for a joint silver medal.
Upon returning to India, Vinesh, teary-eyed but welcomed as a hero, took a new path by joining the Indian National Congress, marking the start of her political career.
