Disqualified from Olympics for being obese, Vinesh Phogat opts for Rs 4 crore over government job

Vinesh Phogat (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Wrestler-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat has opted for a money prize of Rs 4 crore from the Haryana government after being provided advantages equal to an Olympic silver medallist.
The 30-year-old athlete was disqualified from the 2024 Paris Olympics for being obese forward of her gold medal bout within the 50-kg class.
Phogat, a three-time Olympian, had led protests towards the previous Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh.
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She efficiently contested the Haryana Assembly elections from Julana in Jind district final yr on a Congress ticket.
Recently, the Haryana government provided Phogat three selections underneath its sports activities coverage: a money prize of Rs 4 crore, an Outstanding Sportsperson (OSP) job underneath Group ‘A’, or a Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) plot.
After contemplating the choices, Phogat submitted a letter to the state sports activities division on Tuesday, informing them of her determination to simply accept the money award.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini had beforehand introduced that the Haryana cupboard had determined to supply Phogat advantages equal to these of an Olympic silver medallist underneath the state’s sports activities coverage.

During the Haryana Assembly’s Budget Session in March, Phogat had reminded Saini of his promise to honour her like a medallist after her disqualification from the Paris Olympics.
“It is not about money, it is about respect. Many people from across the state tell me that I must have received the cash award,” Phogat stated.
Saini acknowledged that Phogat was disqualified from the Paris Olympics as a result of a procedural determination and referred to as her “Haryana’s pride”.
He assured that he wouldn’t enable her honour to be diminished.