Jharkhand Congress leader calls for accountability and better support for athletes after Vinesh Phogat’s setback

Jamshedpur: Former MP and senior Congress leader Dr. Ajoy  Kumar has criticized the central government following the disqualification of Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat from the women’s 50 kg wrestling event at the Paris Olympics. Phogat was disqualified for being just 100 grams over the weight limit.

Dr. Kumar expressed outrage over the government’s spending priorities, highlighting that while ₹38 crores are allocated for promoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, only ₹70.45 lakhs were provided to support Vinesh Phogat, who has brought honor to the nation on the global stage.

Dr. Kumar described the situation as both “shameful and unfortunate,” particularly condemning Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya’s response in Parliament. He criticized Mandaviya for boasting about the financial assistance given to Phogat, which he deemed insufficient and reflective of the government’s poor priorities.

“The entire nation is in mourning and deeply saddened by Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification at the Paris Olympics,” Dr. Kumar stated. He argued that instead of boasting about the minimal financial support, the Sports Minister should have advocated for Phogat’s case more vigorously before the Paris Olympic Council, especially since her weight was within limits until the semi-finals. Dr. Kumar suggested that Phogat should have been awarded the silver medal, given that her disqualification occurred due to a minor weight discrepancy in the final.

Dr. Kumar also called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Phogat’s disqualification, questioning how such a significant mistake could occur so close to a potential gold medal victory. He demanded accountability, emphasizing the need to prevent similar incidents in the future. Notably, the Indian Olympic team included five wrestlers, with a support team of 17 people, including eight coaches and four assistants.

In his remarks, Dr. Kumar also addressed the broader issue of how Phogat has been treated in the past. He pointed out that those who now praise Vinesh Phogat were the same individuals who belittled her and called her a “fake coin” during her protest at Jantar Mantar, where she was fighting for her rights and the rights of other athletes. Despite these challenges, Phogat’s performance at the international level has not only elevated India’s pride but also served as a strong rebuttal to her detractors.