“Your daughter is with you”: Vinesh Phogat at the farmers’ protest site

Shambhu Border (Haryana):

Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat reached the farmers' protest site at Shambhu border on Saturday, extending her support to the farmers and saying that she, as a “daughter”, stands with them and prays to God that the farmers get their rights and justice.

Vinesh Phogat also refused to be carried away by speculations about her entry into the political arena and called herself an athlete and belonging to the entire nation and that she had “nothing to do with the upcoming state assembly elections”.

“I am a sportswoman, I belong to the whole country. I have nothing to do with which state goes to the polls. All I know is that my country is suffering, farmers are in trouble. Their problems need to be solved and the first priority of the government should be to solve this,” she said.

#LOOK | Wrestler Vinesh Phogat arrives at the farmers' protest Site at Shambhu border as the agitation completes 200 days.

She says: “It's been 200 days since they're sitting here. It's painful to see this. They are all citizens of this country. Farmers run the… image.twitter.com/MJo9XEqpko

— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2024

Asked by reporters if he would contest the Haryana elections if the Congress offered him its ticket, wrestler Vinesh Phogat said, “I will not talk about this, I will not talk about politics. I have come with my family. If they talk about this, they will waste their struggle and their fight. Today, I will not focus on myself. The focus should be on the farmers, that is what I am requesting.”

Addressing the farmers, Vinesh Phogat said, “Your agitation is now 200 days old. I pray to God that you get what you have come here for – your right, justice… Your daughter is with you. I also urge the government. We are also citizens of this country, if we raise our voices it will not always be for political reasons… You should listen to them… What you are demanding is not illegal…”

The peasant leaders also congratulated Ms Phogat on her arrival at the Shambhu border. The peasants' mobilisation at the border has now completed 200 days.

It has been a month of ups and downs for Vinesh, who made it to the final of the women's 50kg category and returned to India empty-handed. On August 7, Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of the United States stood between Vinesh and the gold medal.

However, things went downhill after she was disqualified before the final for exceeding the 50kg weight limit. A day after her heartbreaking disqualification, Vinesh announced her decision to retire from wrestling. She also requested the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to award her a joint silver medal.

The CAS postponed the verdict a couple of times and eventually dismissed Vinesh's application for a silver medal in the women's 50kg event at the Paris Olympics.