'You pretend': Vinesh Phogat alleges 'betrayal in Paris', lashes out at PT Usha over ‘fake support’

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was disqualified from the 2024 Paris Olympics after failing to make the weight for the 53kg freestyle wrestling category, has made a startling revelation regarding her meeting with PT Usha, president of Indian Olympics Association.

Vinesh fell ill and was admitted to a poly-clinic in the Olympics village following her disqualification. She claims that a photo shared by PT Usha on social media, purportedly showing her support, was taken without her knowledge.

In a recent interview with a local news channel, Vinesh said, “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. Otherwise a lot of people are saying ‘don’t leave wrestling’. For what should I continue? There is politics everywhere.”

The wrestler was particularly upset by PT Usha’s decision to post the photo online, claiming it was mere ‘posturing’.

“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, aap bina bataye photo kheench rahe ho, fir social media pe daal ke bol rahe ho hum saath mein khade hain (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 (pretending to). What was it more then (posturing)!”

Vinesh has recently entered politics by joining the Congress.