NEW DELHI — Indian Olympic wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia have made a significant political move by joining the opposition Congress party on September 6. Their entry into politics comes a year after they led a high-profile protest against the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) over allegations of sexual harassment.
The wrestlers’ decision to enter politics follows a challenging year for Phogat, who faced a dramatic and emotional return from the Paris Olympics in August. Phogat, who narrowly missed qualifying for the women’s 50kg freestyle final by 100 grams despite extreme efforts to meet the weight limit, announced her retirement from wrestling shortly after the Olympics. Her return home was met with widespread support from fans and fellow wrestlers, who organized a roadshow in her honor.
Phogat and Punia’s political debut comes just weeks before provincial elections in their home state of Haryana, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is campaigning for a third consecutive term.
Congress General-Secretary K.C. Venugopal praised the wrestlers during their induction, highlighting their contributions to sports and their fight against injustice. “They have not only brought glory to the country in the sports field but have also fought a strong battle against injustice on the street,” Venugopal said.
In her statement, Phogat expressed pride in joining a party that supports women and stands against injustice. “Our fight will continue and we will win, in court and in life,” she declared.
Punia, who won a bronze medal in men’s 65-kg wrestling at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, emphasized his commitment to continuing the hard work he has done during protests and in support of various causes. “The hard work that we did during the protests and in support of farmers, soldiers, and the youth, we will continue that hard work for our country,” he said.
Phogat, Punia, and fellow wrestler Sakshi Malik were prominent figures in the protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the former chief of the WFI, who faced charges of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation based on complaints from six female wrestlers. Singh, who is also a BJP lawmaker, has denied the allegations.