"That’s not how you support...": Vinesh Phogat Accuses IOA Chief PT Usha of Exploiting Hospital Visit in Paris for "Political Gain"

Wrestler-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat on Wednesday accused Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha of exploiting her hospital visit during the Paris Olympics and using pictures clicked with Vinesh on the hospital bed for political gain. The ace-wrestler alleged that the photograps were clicked without her consent. Vinesh, a top contender for gold, was disqualified from the women’s 50kg wrestling final after failing the weigh-in by just 100 grams.

Following her disqualification, Vinesh was taken to a medical facility in the Paris Games village. PT Usha visited her there and a photograph of their meeting quickly went viral on social media. However, Vinesh on Wednesdayhit out at PT Usha stating that the pictures were clicked without her consent. "You are on a hospital bed, where you don’t know what’s happening in life outside. You are going through one of the worst phases of your life. At that place, just to show everyone you are standing with me, you clicked a photo without telling me and then putting it on social media to say you are standing with me. That’s not how you show support," said Phogat.

"I don’t know what support I got there. PT Usha madam visited me at the hospital. One photo was clicked... Like you said, in politics a lot happens behind closed doors. Similarly, politics happened there (in Paris) as well. That’s why I was heartbroken," said Vinesh expressing dissapointment.

Following the incident, despite an appeal by the IOA to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), Vinesh announced her retirement from wrestling shortly after her disqualification. She was subsequently dealt another blow when CAS rejected her appeal for a joint silver medal. Returning to India amidst a hero’s welcome, Vinesh Phogat along with Bajrang Punia joined the Indian National Congress ahead of the Haryana Assembly Elections.