Vinesh Phogat after winning her Women’s Freestyle 50kg Round of 16 wrestling match against Japan’s Yui Susaki at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France. (PTI Photo)
Vinesh Phogat’s exceptional resilience at the Paris Olympics is what sparked the anguish at home, transforming into unprecedented solidarity in the wake of her disqualification from the gold-medal wrestling bout. The public outrage over her fate will not subside easily — Phogat is not just any other Olympian; this is not just another lost gold medal for India. The discourse following her disqualification over a mere 100 gram in the 50-kg category has a specific context, one that warrants deeper analysis. People are also angry because of the Indian government’s handling of the issue.
We are proud of all of our Olympians — especially the sportswomen; they are assets, with or without a medal. Yet, Phogat was special to many even before she qualified for the Paris Olympic Games. Her mettle and courage have grown stronger since the disqualification.
Phogat embodies Indian sporstwomen’s ongoing struggle against the rampant malaise of sexual abuse by those entrusted with their guardianship. She and her other medal-winning colleagues had exhibited tremendous courage when they risked their bright careers to expose the ugly face of the Wrestling Federations of India (WFI). The wrestlers faced head-on one of the most powerful Members of Parliament from the BJP, Brij Bhushan Singh, the then-president of the WFI. They accused him of sexual assault and harassment. Their sit-in at Jantar Mantar attracted massive support from women’s organisations, farmers’ outfits and civil society groups across the country. The Delhi police lodged an FIR belatedly against Singh, only at the directions of the Supreme Court.
But this battle took its toll. Sakshi Malik, an Olympian and fellow agitator, retired from wrestling while Phogat continued to face hostility at every step. Phogat proved her prowess by winning against three accomplished wrestlers in a day, including a thrilling victory over Yui Susaki, an undefeated Japanese world champion. But the jubilation over an assured claim to a gold medal turned into despair hours later.
Indians have questions right now — ones that need to be satisfactorily answered. First, Phogat made her fears known right after she qualified for the Olympics. She was afraid she might be framed in a doping case by the authorities for her role in the agitation against the sexual abuse of women wrestlers.
The public remarks made by BJP leaders like Kangana Ranaut with immunity from her party smack of strong official prejudices against Phogat. In addition, it was distasteful for the Sports Minister to present, in Parliament, a detailed account of the money spent on training Phogat at a time when countrymen were deeply saddened over her disqualification and looking to fix accountability.
Renowned US wrestler Jordan Burroughs suggested an immediate change in the technical rules governing weight in view of the change in schedules of the bouts from one to two days.
Be that as it may, the game is not over; there are many bouts to come. Vinesh, you may have lost a battle on technical points but this is a war between a system that denies justice and the people seeking to achieve it. Together, we will win this — to create a system based on justice, equality and self-dignity.
Sangwan is vice president, All India Democratic Women’s Association and an ex-volleyball player. Singh is vice president, All India Kisan Sabha
