‘No real support...clicked photo without consent': Vinesh Phogat slams IOA chief PT Usha
PTC News Desk: Vinesh Phogat unleashed a verbal attack on the Indian Olympic Association's president PT Usha, accusing her of taking photographs with her on a hospital bed without consent during the Paris Olympics.
Phogat accused PT Usha of using her situation to play politics.
Usha paid her a visit to the hospital and took a photo that went viral on social media. Vinesh believes this was more for show than genuine support.
Vinesh was disqualified from the women's 50kg wrestling gold medal match after failing to weigh in by 100 gms. She had to return empty-handed. No amount of prodding or desperate measures, such as chopping off hair and not sleeping all night, was enough. She turned out to be overweight, and according to the rules of United World Wrestling she was disqualified, and all of her previous wins were null and void.
Vinesh was exhausted from the extraordinary measures she had taken to lose weight. She had to be sent to a medical facility inside the Paris Games village, where IOA chief PT Usha met her and promised her full support.
Vinesh, on the other hand, said that she received no actual support from IOA and that the photo was taken without her consent.
"You're in a hospital bed, you have no idea what's going on outside, and you're going through one of the most difficult times of your life. At the time, you took a photo without telling me and then posted it on social media to show that you were standing with me. That is not how you show support. What was it, more than (posturing)?" Vinesh said a local news channel.
Vinesh stated that the incident left her heartbroken. "I don't know what support I got there. PT Usha madam visited me at the hospital. One photo was clicked... As you said, in politics a lot happens behind closed doors. Similarly, politics happened there (in Paris) as well. That's why I was heartbroken. Otherwise, a lot of people are saying 'Don't leave wrestling'. For what should I continue? There is politics everywhere," she added.
- With inputs from agencies
