Mahavir Phogat too weighs in, blames it on diet coach
Ravinder Saini
Tribune News Service
Charkhi Dadri, August 7
‘Dangal’ fame Mahavir Singh Phogat, Vinesh Phogat’s uncle on whose life the Bollywood blockbuster is loosely based on, has blamed his niece’s diet coach for her shocking exit from the Olympics hours before her final match for gold in the 50kg category.
A Dronacharya awardee, Mahavir said it was the coach’s responsibility to select a diet that ensured a wrestler’s weight remained in check. “A night before the bout, the wrestler’s weight is checked and diet is given accordingly. The diet coach is solely responsible for her being overweight,” he asserted.
The father of international wrestlers Geeta and Babita Phogat, he broke down in tears while talking to The Tribune at Jhojhu Kalan village in Charkhi Dadri district of Haryana where he has set up Mahavir Phogat Sports Academy to train budding wrestlers.
A former wrestler himself, Mahavir is among the pioneers of women’s wrestling in India. “Vinesh’s disqualification has shattered everyone’s dream of winning a wrestling medal at Paris Olympics. There is an atmosphere of sorrow in our village and across the country. I am yet to speak to Vinesh, so don’t know what diet she took after her semi-final bout. My son-in-law Bajrang Punia shared this shocking news over the phone in the morning,” said Mahavir, his voice choking. He said after Vinesh’s semi-final victory, he had already begun planning for a grand reception as he was confident she would win the gold.
With no one available at Mahavir and Vinesh’s houses in native Balali village, most of the villagers thronged the sports academy. A pall of gloom descended on the native village of the Phogats after the shocking news of the disqualification spread. Surendra Pal Singh, Mahavir’s friend, called it a “conspiracy” against India and Vinesh and demanded a fair probe.
