We salute Vinesh Phogat for reaching remarkable heights as an Indian athlete and for standing as a champion of justice and resilience!

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As the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the Olympic finals, she achieved remarkable success in her sport, including defeating the world’s number one undefeated female wrestler. However, her victory extends beyond the wrestling mat.

Vinesh’s journey has made her an icon for all survivors of sexual harassment who are fighting for justice and who refuse to succumb to the societal pressure. In 2023, she spent 40 days on the streets of Delhi, demanding justice for herself and other female wrestlers who were victims of sexual harassment by Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, the then head of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). She not only exposed the widespread mismanagement and lack of accountability within the federation but also declared that her fight was to ensure that future female wrestlers do not face the abuse she had to endure.

Vinesh faced public threats from Brijbhushan to end her wrestling career, risked her fame and popularity as a sports celebrity, and survived brutal trolling and lathicharge. She was even labeled as anti-national.

The WFI, in an apparent act of retaliation, forced her to compete in the 50 kg category instead of her usual 53 kg category while qualifying for the 2024 Olympics. Despite these challenges, Vinesh worked tirelessly to meet the new requirements, even successfully winning her matches. However, she was disqualified from the Olympic finals for weighing just 100 grams over the limit, a decision which is a direct result of WFI’s vindictive measure to change her weight category.

The disqualification crushed the hopes of millions of us, and in the wake of this heartbreaking turn of events, Vinesh announced her retirement from wrestling. She stated, “Wrestling won, I lost, my courage lost,” expressing the profound toll the battle had taken on her. Former Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs, along with countless others, have publicly supported Vinesh, starting a hashtag called #GiveVineshTheSilverMedal. Vinesh has appealed against her disqualification in CAS (Court of Arbitration of Sports).

As we await the final decision, questions persist about why the IOA so readily accepted Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification. Was it because Vinesh dared to speak truth to power? Concerns also arise about the leadership of the IOA, currently chaired by Nita Ambani, who lacks expertise in both sports and administrative rigor. This lack of experience is evident in the IOA’s weak efforts to challenge the disqualification, raising suspicions of a nexus between Ambani and the BJP and the tightened grip of Ambani empire on Indian state affairs.

We also note the silence of the Prime Minister in addressing the unfair disqualification, and the statement of Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who blamed Vinesh that she was 100 gms overweight and also that she was given all training and support from the Government. The treatment of our athletes by the BJP is nothing short of disrespectful.

While Vinesh may or may not have returned from the Olympics with a medal, her legacy will live on forever. She has earned a place in the hearts of millions across India, which cannot be measured by medals. Vinesh Phogat’s story will continue to resonate, serving as a reminder to all survivors of gender-based violence that they are more than the violence they endured; they are here to thrive.

We demand that IOA (Indian Olympics Association) pushes and ensures that Vinesh gets her due silver.

We demand an inquiry into the role of IOA and WFI in facilitating Vinesh’s participation in the Olympics and taking accountability for the disqualification.

All India Progressive Women’s Association