File photo of Vinesh Phogat© PTI
Wrestler-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat has opted for a cash prize after the Haryana government recently offered to her benefits equivalent to an Olympic silver medallist, asking her to choose from various options. Phogat, 30, was disqualified from the 2024 Paris Olympics for being overweight ahead of her gold medal bout in the 50-kg category. The three-time Olympian led protests against former former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh. She successfully contested the Haryana Assembly elections from Julana in Jind district last year on a Congress ticket.
Recently, the Haryana government offered three choices to Phogat under its sports policy.
Official sources on Thursday said she opted for a cash award of Rs 4 crore.
She submitted a letter to the state sports department on Tuesday to inform them of her decision.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini last month announced that the Haryana cabinet had decided to offer Phogat benefits equivalent to those of an Olympic silver medallist under the state’s sports policy.
The state’s sports policy provides three types of benefits — a cash prize of Rs 4 crore, an Outstanding Sportsperson (OSP) job under Group ‘A’ and a Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) plot.
The government recently sought her preference regarding the benefit which she wished to avail.
During the Haryana Assembly’s Budget Session in March, Phogat had reminded Saini of his promise to honour her like a medallist after she was disqualified for being overweight ahead of her gold medal bout in the 50 kg category at last year’s Paris Olympics.
“The chief minister had said that Vinesh is our daughter and she would receive the reward as an Olympic silver medallist. This promise has still not been fulfilled,” she said in the Assembly.
“It is not about money, it is about respect. Many people from across the state tell me that I must have received the cash award,” Phogat said.
Saini noted that Phogat was disqualified from the Paris Olympics due to a procedural decision.
Calling Phogat “Haryana’s pride”, the chief minister tweeted that he would not allow her honour to be diminished.
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