'Lost at least 6 medals': WFI Chief Sanjay Singh accuses Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia of 'deshdroh'
PTC News Desk: Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Sanjay Singh on Saturday said that he is not surprised that Olympian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia had joined the Congress ahead of Haryana's Assembly elections.
The WFI chief slammed the two wrestlers for "damaging and destroying" the sport in pursuit of their "political desire" and accused them of 'deshdroh'. Singh stated that Vinesh and Punia were formerly acclaimed wrestlers, but they will now be recognized as "pawns" of Congress.
Singh levelled strong allegations against the two Haryana wrestlers, claiming that the nation paid a high price as a result of their motivated protest. "Congress and the wrestlers committed an act of 'desh droh' (treason) in an Olympic year. We lost at least six medals because of them," claimed the WFI chief.
Singh accused the wrestlers of creating irreversible damage to the sport, claiming that instead of revealing their true political colours today, they should have done so at the start of the protest. "They may have officially started their political careers today, but their preparations have been ongoing for some time. Their entire protest for justice for women wrestlers was politically motivated, and Congress supported it," he stated.
The WFI chief launched an attack against the two wrestlers, saying that if they wanted to pursue politics, they should have joined the Congress long ago. "Why did they use these tactics to further their political agenda? Why did they destroy the sport?" he asked.
Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, two ace wrestlers, joined the Congress on Friday, nearly a month before the Haryana assembly elections. Within hours of joining the party, wrestler Vinesh Phogat was given a ticket from the Julana constituency for the upcoming Haryana elections. Meanwhile, Bajrang Punia was appointed working president of the All India Kisan Congress.
- With inputs from agencies
