After wrestler Vinesh Phogat announced retirement following her disqualification from the Olympics for being overweight, Congress MP Randeep Surjewala on Thursday raised questions on the ‘silence’ of the government.
“The whole country is hopeful that she will rise again and fight. But why is the Government of India silent?” Congress MP Surjewala said.
MP Randeep Surjewala further urged the Indian Olympic Association should talk to the International Olympic Association talk to the International Olympic Association.
“The previous day when she won three matches, her weight was less than 50 kg. So if the weight is more on the next day then how can it affect the previous day’s win? Indian Olympic Association should talk to the International Olympic Association,” MP Surjewala said.
Surjeala further added, “Not only to Vinesh, this medal belongs to the whole country and BJP needs to understand that.”
Speaking to ANI, Congress MP, Deepender Hooda, said, “Vinesh has not lost but she has won the hearts of crores of people. The sports system has lost.
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The government should give her all the facilities that are given to a gold medallist”
Deepender Hooda further said that Vinesh would be a suitable person to be a Rajya Sabha MP from Haryana.
“Today a Rajya Sabha seat is vacant (in Haryana), we did not have a majority but if there is any suitable person in the country to become an MP then it is Vinesh. Because she has emerged as a symbol of inspiration, courage for the world and the country,” Hooda said.
Congress MP Kumari Selja asked for reasons behind Phogat not being able to keep her weight under the 50 kg limit.
“We all can understand her pain and despair.
What happened to her, the entire nation would like to know, what her entire team was doing. It needs to be asked if her team has let down her, or who let down her.” Kumari Selja said.
Early on Thursday morning, Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling following her disqualification in the 50 kg freestyle wrestling final at the Paris Olympics.
“Maa kushti (wrestling) won against me, I lost. Forgive me, your dream and my courage have been broken. I don’t have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024. I will always be indebted to you all for forgiveness,” Phogat said in her post.
Phogat was set to compete against the United States’ Sarah Ann Hildebrandt for the gold medal but was disqualified on Wednesday for breaching the weight limit.
WITH INPUTS FROM ANI
