Yogeshwar criticises Vinesh over Paris Olympics disqualification: 'She should have apologised in front of entire nation'

London Olympics bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt has criticised former Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, saying that the former Indian wrestler should have “apologised to the nation” f ollowing her disqualification from the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Phogat, who had made the final of the women’s 50 kg wrestling category in Paris, was disqualified after she was found to be overweight by 100 grams on the day of the final. She filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for a joint-silver medal, but lost the appeal a week later.

‘Conspiracy theories’ 

Yogeshwar said that Vinesh spread “conspiracy theories” regarding her disqualification, and even added that Vinesh even blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the controversial ouster. Yogeshwar backed the 30 year-old’s disqualification.

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“She was disqualified from the Olympic Games, she should have apologised in front of the entire nation, saying that she made mistakes. But instead, she termed it a conspiracy, even blaming the Prime Minister of the country. Everyone knows that the disqualification was the right call. They disqualify athletes even if the weight is more by a gram,” Yogeshwar told AajTak.

Just a couple of weeks ago, the Haryana-born former athlete made allegations against Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the body's president PT Usha . Phogat slammed the IOA, claiming that the body did not provide with enough legal backing while she appealed with the CAS for the joint-silver medal.
Vinesh had said that the IOA and the Government of India should have been more proactive in backing her, rather than supporting her only after she launched an appeal.

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‘Wrong atmosphere in country’

Yogeshwar slammed Vinesh for creating a “wrong atmosphere in the country” during the wrestlers’ protest against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh last year. “She created a wrong atmosphere in the country. Even during the protests, people were asked to gather in the wrong way.

“If we speak just about the Olympics, despite costing India a medal, a false perception was created that something wrong happened to her. If I was in Vinesh’s place, I would’ve apologised to the country,” he stated.

A day after her disqualification, Vinesh announced her retirement from wrestling on 8 August. She announced her entry into politics recently, officially joining Congress earlier in September.