New Delhi: Political parties are wooing Vinesh Phogat to enter politics, with the possibility of the wrestler contesting in the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections.
After unsuccessfully appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport for a joint silver medal at Paris Olympics after getting disqualified from the 50kg freestyle final for being overweight, Phogat has returned to her village in Haryana.
She has been given a grand welcome at her village in Balali, Sonipat, with an IANS report suggesting that political parties are at her doorstep to convince her to fight in the polls.
Phogat had earlier hinted at returning to the mat after announcing her retirement from wrestling, having stated that she wasn’t keen to move into active politics.
“Yes, why not? It’s likely that in Haryana assembly you see Vinesh Phogat vs Babita Phogat and Bajrang Punia vs Yogeshwar Dutt. Some political parties are trying to convince her,” IANS quoted sources close to the Phogat family.
Her cousin, Babita is also a fellow wrestler and a BJP functionary, who joined politics in 2019. Phogat is yet to speak about her future plans regarding politics even though she was accorded a heroes welcome by Congress MP Deepender Hooda at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.
‘Fight will continue’
The 29-year-old Phogat got greeted with loud cheers from her family and friends at the airport after landing from Paris. The affection showered reduced her to tears as she was comforted by fellow wrestlers Sakshi Malikkh and Bajrang Punia.
The trio were the face of the year-long wrestlers’ protests against former Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is under trial for alleged sexual misconduct on women grapplers.
“Our fight has not ended and the fight will continue and I pray to god that the truth will prevail,” Phogat had vowed on continuing the protest.
Reports suggest that political parties are at Vinesh Phogat’s doorstep to convince her to fight in the upcoming Haryana Assembly polls against cousin Babita Phogat Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
