Mahavir Phogat, uncle of former wrestler Vinesh Phogat, has expressed dissatisfaction over Vinesh Phogat joining politics.
Expressing his desire, Mahavir said that he wanted her to focus on winning a gold medal in the 2028 Olympics.
He, further, added that he had even objected to her decision to join politics and contest elections.
His remarks came days after Vinesh, along with wrestler Bajrang Punia, joined the Congress.
Mahavir had said, “I wanted Vinesh to participate in one more Olympics and win a gold medal. It was her Olympic goal to win gold. I do not support her decision to join politics.”
Congress has fielded Vinesh Phogat from the Julana Assembly seat for the Haryana Assembly polls on October 5.
Mahavir lamented that all hopes get shattered when a player decides to quit sports to join politics.
It is to be noted that Mahavir’s daughter Babita Phogat, too, joined politics by taking membership of the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2019.
“Children are entitled to make their own decisions. But at this age, Vinesh could have participated in one more Olympics. I wanted her to win gold in the Olympics,” he added.
Last month, Vinesh was disqualified from the Paris Olympics after she was found to be overweight by 100 grams just before her women’s 50 kg final.
She had appealed against the decision but was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Amid the controversy, Vinesh retired from wrestling.
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