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Agartala, Tripura
Ace wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia on Friday joined the Congress just days before Haryana will vote to elect a new assembly.
Phogat and Punia were at the forefront of the movement which took place in 2023 against the alleged sexual assault and intimidation by former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Singh.
Earlier in the day, both the leaders met Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge before joining the grand old party of the country.
चक दे इंडिया, चक दे हरियाणा!
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) September 6, 2024
दुनिया में भारत का नाम रौशन करने वाले हमारे प्रतिभाशाली चैंपियन विनेश फोगाट और बजरंग पुनिया से 10 राजाजी मार्ग पर मुलाक़ात।
हमें आप दोनों पर गर्व है। pic.twitter.com/aFRwfFeeo1
Following the meeting, Congress posted on X: "Chak De India, Chak De Haryana. Met the two talented Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia who made the country proud internationally at 10, Rajaji Marg. We are proud of you."
"When we were being dragged on the road, all of you were with us except BJP. You were able to understand our pain and tears," she said.
She said she would stand in support of women in society.
मैं सभी का धन्यवाद देता हूं।
— Congress (@INCIndia) September 6, 2024
हम अन्याय के खिलाफ साथ मिलकर लड़ेंगे और हर संघर्ष में कांग्रेस के साथ खड़े रहेंगे।
हमने महिला पहलवानों पर हो रहे अन्याय के खिलाफ BJP की महिला सांसदों को पत्र लिखा था, लेकिन कोई हमारे साथ खड़ा नहीं हुआ।
लेकिन कांग्रेस हर मोड़ पर हमारे साथ खड़ी रही।… pic.twitter.com/VSMowHH8LV
"I am proud that I am joining a party which fights against injustice faced by women. I am ready to work hard for the people of the country just like we devoted our life to wrestling," she said.
Ahead of joining the Congress, Phogat also resigned from Indian Railways.
On August 7, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, competing in the women's 50kg freestyle category in the Paris Olympics 2024, was disqualified just before her gold medal bout with the US' Sarah Hildebrandt.
Phogat was given the reason that she weighed 100 grams more than the permissible limit of UWW.
मैं कांग्रेस का बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद करती हूं, क्योंकि बुरे समय में ही पता चलता है- अपना कौन है।
— Congress (@INCIndia) September 6, 2024
जब हमें सड़क पर घसीटा जा रहा था, तो BJP को छोड़कर आप सभी हमारे साथ थे। आप हमारे दर्द और आंसुओं को समझ पा रहे थे।
मुझे गर्व है कि मैं एक ऐसी विचारधारा से जुड़ी हूं, जो महिलाओं पर हो… pic.twitter.com/MWo8N0EpaV
Later in the day, the wrestler appealed against her disqualification at the CAS and sought a silver medal.
On August 8, Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling after being upset with her disqualification.
The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) on August 19 released a full report of the entire proceedings related to Phogat's disqualification.
The CAS explained the terms and conditions of the United World Wrestling (UWW) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the detailed report.
The CAS, in its preliminary observations, also mentioned that this was a particularly difficult case.
The international body, however, noted that Vinesh Phogat was above the 50 kg limit for her wrestling category when she weighed in for the finals at the Paris Olympics 2024.
Haryana will vote to elect a new assembly on October 5.
The counting of votes will take place on October 8.
