Is a new beginning on the horizon for star wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat? It seems so, after their incredible performances on the wrestling mat. On one hand, Bajrang Punia won a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, while on the other hand, Vinesh Phogat was close to clinching the gold medal at the recently held Paris Olympics, but being 100 grams overweight shattered her dreams. Now, reports suggest that both wrestlers are set to start their journey in politics and will contest in the Haryana assembly elections.
2023 Wrestlers protest
It is important to mention that both Phogat and Punia were part of a protest against the Wrestling Federation of India and its former president, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, in January 2023. Now, connecting the dots, clarity is slowly and steadily emerging that they both could move in a political direction. Although nothing is confirmed yet, so it would be premature to make assumptions, there are certainly some hints suggesting a ‘political way’ for both players.
Vinesh Phogat Paris Olympics 2024
Among the two names, Vinesh Phogat is currently still the talk of the town. She was very close to the Olympic podium but couldn’t stand on it. Phogat defied all odds by reaching the final in the women’s 50 kg wrestling event, although she couldn’t succeed. After defeating Pan American Games champion Yusneylis Guzman of Cuba in the semi-finals, she cleared former European champion Oksana Livach of Ukraine in the quarter-finals. In her first match, she upset the world No. 1 reigning Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan.
However, just 12 hours before the final, she was found overweight and disqualified from the Paris Olympics for exceeding the 50 kg weight limit by 100 grams. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how things change for the 29-year-old Vinesh Phogat, a World Wrestling Championship medalist and Olympic bronze medalist.
