'She should not have joined politics': Mahavir Phogat wanted Vinesh to go for gold at LA Olympics

Mahavir Phogat, the legendary wrestling coach, has expressed disappointment over his niece Vinesh Phogat ’s decision to enter politics, emphasizing that he had always envisioned her winning a gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics . 

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Mahavir Phogat unhappy with Vinesh's decision to join politics

In a candid statement, Mahavir Phogat revealed that he wanted Vinesh to continue focusing on her wrestling career, aiming for Olympic glory. According to him, the timing of her political move has derailed what could have been a historic moment for Indian wrestling.

Vinesh Phogat recently made headlines for joining the Congress party, a decision that seems to have caught her family off-guard. Mahavir, who has mentored several members of the Phogat family, expressed that he was not consulted before his niece took the plunge. 

"It was my wish that she focus on her game and win a gold medal in the 2028 Olympics . I feel she should not have joined politics at this stage. I wanted her to continue wrestling," Mahavir Phogat told news agency PTI.

"There was no talk regarding this. Had there been one, I would have advised her against it. But children these days take their own decisions," Mahavir said when asked if his niece had consulted him before making the move.

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Vinesh became the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the Olympics final, the stage where she was disqualified in Paris after being found overweight by about 100 grams in her 50-kilogram category weigh-in. She subsequently announced her retirement from the sport.

Mahavir, whose Olympian daughter Babita Phogat joined the BJP ahead of the 2019 assembly elections, exuded confidence that the party will retain power in Haryana for a third time in a row.

Babita, a Commonwealth Games medal-winner freestyle wrestler who inspired the Bollywood film 'Dangal', contested the 2019 polls unsuccessfully from Dadri.

On Congress 's claim that the BJP will be ousted from power in Haryana , he said, "When results are declared (on October 8), you will see. The BJP will be back in power". 

(With PTI inputs)