“Jinko medal chahiye kharid lena 15-15 rs mein” - Bajrang Punia takes a dig at Brij Bhushan after Vinesh Phogat’s silver medal plea rejected
After the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected Vinesh Phogat’s plea for a joint silver medal, Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia took to X to take a dig at the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh.
Since January 2023, 30 Indian wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik, staged a protest against Brij Bhushan for allegedly sexually harassing female wrestlers for years. They demanded dissolution of the WFI.
During the wrestling protests, the accused Brij Bhushan had stated stated that the wrestlers' Olympic medals were worth Rs. 15, sparking a huge controversy.
Mocking Brij Bhushan for his controversial statement, Bajrang Punia took to X to hail Phogat for her exceptional efforts at the Paris Olympics 2024 and also took a jibe at the former WFI chief, saying:
"Even though your medal was taken away in this darkness, You are shining like a diamond today in the entire world. The pride, honor, and glory of world champion India, Rustam-e-Hind Vinesh Phogat, you are the Kohinoor of the nation. Vinesh Phogat is being hailed across the world. Those who need a medal, go buy one for 15 rupees each.”
Vinesh Phogat loses her silver medal plea
On Wednesday, August 14, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed Vinesh Phogat's plea for a joint silver medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) was quick to react to the decision, expressing shock and disappointment.
In her appeal, Phogat stated that she should be given a joint silver medal along with Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who suffered a loss to Phogat in the semi-final but advanced to the gold medal bout following the Indian's disqualification.
"The IOA firmly believes that the total disqualification of an athlete for such a weight infraction on the second of two days warrants a deeper examination. Our legal representatives had duly brought this out in their submissions before the Sole Arbitrator," IOA’s statement read. (via the Sportstak)
"The matter involving Vinesh highlights the stringent and, arguably, inhumane regulations that fail to account for the physiological and psychological stresses athletes, particularly female athletes, undergo. It is a stark reminder of the need for more equitable and reasonable standards that prioritize athletes' well-being," it continued.