Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was disqualified from the Paris Olympics 2024 for being 100 grams overweight in the 50kg category final, has found herself at the center of a family feud. After her disqualification, Vinesh publicly thanked her coaches, physios, and support staff but omitted her first coach and uncle, Mahavir Phogat, from the acknowledgment.
This omission did not go unnoticed and has stirred emotions within the Phogat family.
Babita Phogat emotional accusation
During an interview on ‘Top Angle With Sushant Sinha’, Vinesh’s cousin Babita Phogat, herself a former wrestler and daughter of Mahavir Phogat, voiced her displeasure. She accused Vinesh Phogat of failing to thank Mahavir, the person who, according to Babita, played a significant role in shaping her wrestling career. Babita expressed how deeply hurt her father was by this exclusion.
“I have seen my father cry just three times in my life. First, when me and my sisters got married. Second, when my uncle died and third, when Vinesh got disqualified from the Olympics,” Babita emotionally shared. She recounted how her father fought for Vinesh and her siblings when they initially quit wrestling after their uncle’s death, persuading them to return to the sport. “Imagine how much he has worked to make Vinesh. But she thanked everyone except for that guru,” Babita said.
NADA notice to Vinesh Phogat
In addition to the family tension, Vinesh Phogat also faces scrutiny from the National Anti-Doping Authority (NADA). She has been served a notice for a “whereabouts failure,” as she was not present when a Dope Control Officer visited her Sonipat residence in Haryana to collect a urine sample. This failure to be available at the specified time could have significant consequences, as outlined in the formal notice issued by NADA.
“You are hereby given a formal notice to notify you about the apparent failure to comply with the whereabouts requirements of the ADR and to invite you to make any comments before we come to a final decision on the matter. Please read this letter carefully, as it may have serious consequences for you,” read the notice.
Ongoing challenges for Vinesh Phogat
Vinesh Phogat’s journey, both in the wrestling arena and her personal life, has seen its fair share of challenges. The disqualification from the Paris Olympics, coupled with the NADA notice and the public accusation from her cousin, has undoubtedly put her under immense pressure. While she made history by becoming the first Indian female wrestler to qualify for the final of the Women’s 50kg category, these controversies are casting a shadow over her achievements.
As Vinesh prepares to address these issues, the Phogat family’s internal strife continues to play out in the public eye, highlighting the complexity of balancing professional success with personal relationships.
