Gurugram: Vinesh Phogat’s fierce spirit remains intact off the mat. The combative wrestler-turned-Congress MLA took on her critics, who criticised her for writing to the Haryana sports department to seek the Rs 4 crore cash award and a Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) plot that the state usually grants to Olympians who bring home a silver medal.
The social media backlash, particularly on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), was seemingly orchestrated by several users whose profiles show affiliation with Hindu Right-wing groups.
The trolling began shortly after her letter became public, as the netizens questioned her entitlement to the reward, and accused the Julana MLA of “begging” for benefits despite her Paris Olympics disqualification.
Even Haryana cabinet minister Ranbir Gangwa, who comes from the BJP, added fuel to the fire. “According to the rules, Vinesh doesn’t deserve the awards because she was disqualified from the Paris Olympics because of being overweight. It is only because CM had announced her the award at the time of her disqualification, that the Cabinet decided in favour of giving her the award although she is now a member of the Vidhan Sabha,” he said.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini appeared to distance himself from the criticism. In a post on ‘X’, he wrote: “Honouring Vinesh Phogat is not about politics. She is our hero and a symbol of strength, resilience, and determination.”
Vinesh, a prominent face in the wrestlers’ protests against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh in 2023, has not taken the attacks lightly. She has hit back with two powerful posts on ‘X’, announcing her intent to use the award money for a wrestling academy and delivering a scathing rebuke to her critics.
“The real victory is when a player’s hard work is respected. The public has given me a lot — love, respect, trust, courage, and strength. It’s now time to repay that debt. As a public representative and a player who has struggled, my responsibilities are not just towards myself but also towards thousands of young dreams wanting to find their future through sports in a safe environment. I have always dreamed of creating better facilities and an enabling atmosphere for upcoming athletes. It is time now,” she said Sunday.
The award money, Vinesh said, would be utilised to set up an international-level sports academy.
Her second post was rapier-sharp as she directly took on the trolls. “To those tweeting for 2 rupees and giving free advice—let me tell you, I’ve turned down crores in offers till now. From soft drinks to online gaming—I’ve never sold my principles. Everything I’ve earned is through honest hard work and the blessings of my people—and I take pride in that.”
“As for ‘asking’—I am a daughter of that soil where self-respect runs in our blood. I’ve learned from my ancestors—rights are not begged for, they are earned. And yes, when needed, I know how to call upon my own, and when one of us is in pain, we stand like a wall together,” she shot back in Hindi.
“So, zip it. Sit in the corner and do what you’re best at — cry, cry, cry… and just cry! Because we are not going anywhere. We’re here to stay, grounded, unshaken, and standing tall with our own spine and self-respect!”
Vinesh Phogat had earlier been at the forefront of the agitation which led to the ouster of WFI president Brij Bhushan Singh after national outrage.
Vinesh had a historic run at the Paris Olympics, where she became the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the 50kg freestyle finals. But it ended in heartbreak when she was disqualified for being 100 grams overweight before her gold medal bout.
Despite the setback, the Haryana government announced in August 2024 that it would treat her as a silver medallist under its sports policy, which provides three benefits: a Rs. 4 crore cash prize, a Group A government job, and an HSVP plot.
During the Assembly session in March, Vinesh raised the delay in disbursing these benefits, stating, “It is not about money, it is about respect.”
On 25 March, the Haryana cabinet approved the rewards, asking Phogat, as an MLA, to choose her options. It was in line with this assurance that Vinesh wrote to the sports department, requesting the cash reward and the plot.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Also Read: Vinesh, Bajrang’s decisions driven by ‘greed’, Babita instigated wrestlers: Sakshi Malik in memoir
