'You have my support': Vinesh Phogat congratulates Bajrang Punia on being named working president of Kisan Congress

Former Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Saturday congratulated fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia for joining Congress and also becoming the working president of All India Kisan Congress. Amid much speculation, both Vinesh and Bajrang officially joined Congress on Friday, marking their entry into politics.

“Heartiest congratulations to my fellow struggler @BajrangPunia ji on joining the @INCIndia party and becoming the working president of the Kisan Congress in the Indian National Congress. I have full faith that under your leadership, the Kisan Congress will work tirelessly to solve every issue of the farmers and for their progress,” Phogat wrote on “X”, formerly called Twitter.

“The fight that we have fought together for the rights of women and sportspersons will continue in the future as well. With your support, we will fight a decisive battle in the interest of the people and farmers of the country, and will work to win it.”

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“All the best on this new journey, and as always, you have my support,” she concluded.

मेरे संघर्ष के साथी @BajrangPunia जी को @INCIndia पार्टी ज्वाइन करने और भारतीय राष्ट्रीय कांग्रेस में किसान कांग्रेस का कार्यकारी अध्यक्ष बनने पर हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं। मुझे पूर्ण विश्वास है कि आपके नेतृत्व में किसान कांग्रेस, किसानों के हर मुद्दे को हल करने और उनकी प्रगति के लिए… pic.twitter.com/iu9LV4Cb3P

— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) September 7, 2024

On Wednesday, both Vinesh and Bajrang met Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. In another post by Vinesh on Saturday, she termed Rahul as a “true supporter of sports and sportspersons”. “In my meeting with the Leader of Opposition @RahulGandhi ji, I saw that he is not just a leader but also a true supporter of sports and sportspersons. His dedication is to take every youth of the country towards a strong future. #SportsForNation,” she posted.

जब खेल और सेवा का मिलन हो! 🤝

नेता प्रतिपक्ष @RahulGandhi जी से मुलाकात में मुझे दिखा कि वे सिर्फ एक नेता नहीं, बल्कि खेल और खिलाड़ियों के सच्चे समर्थक भी हैं। उनका समर्पण देश के हर युवा को एक मजबूत भविष्य की ओर ले जाने का प्रयास है। #SportsForNation pic.twitter.com/uScJoev4GF

— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) September 7, 2024

In 2023, Phogat and Punia, along with Sakshi Malik, were at the forefront of wrestlers’ protests against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and ex-BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment. Brij Bhushan, however, downplayed the duo's entry into politics, saying that “a small BJP candidate would defeat them”.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Singh, the current WFI chief claimed the Congress was behind the wrestlers' protest against Brij Bhushan last year.

In August, Phogat reached the final of the women’s 50 kg wrestling category at the Paris Olympics, where she was due to face USA’s Sarah Hildrebrandt. However, Phogat was disqualified after it was discovered that she was overweight by 100 grams on the day of the final. Her spot in the final eventually went to Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzman, who went on to win silver.

In the aftermath of her disqualification, the 30 year-old filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) demanding a joint-silver medal, but her appeal was dismissed by the body a week later. Vinesh announced retirement from wrestling on 8 August, a day after her disqualification.