Vinesh Phogat triumphs in Haryana assembly elections, wins from Julana constituency
Indian wrestling star Vinesh Phogat has marked a new milestone in her career, this time off the wrestling mat. The 30-year-old wrestler-turned-politician secured a notable victory in the Haryana Assembly elections, winning from the Julana constituency on Tuesday (October 8).
Vinesh Phogat, who contested the election on an Indian National Congress (INC) ticket, defeated Yogesh Kumar of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by a margin of 6,015 votes. In a keenly contested battle, Vinesh garnered 65,080 votes, while her nearest rival Yogesh Kumar secured 59,065 votes.
The sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Amarjeet Dhandha of the Jannayak Janta Party, was also defeated.
This election victory is Vinesh's first major political achievement since retiring from wrestling after the 2024 Paris Olympics. She had gained significant public attention over the past year, not only for her sporting prowess but also for her involvement in a high-profile protest against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Vinesh, alongside fellow wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, led protests against the WFI chief over allegations of sexual harassment in May 2023.
Vinesh Phogat's journey to victory in the Julana constituency was a hard-fought one. She started the election day with a narrow lead, pulling ahead by 200 votes in the first round of counting. However, her opponent, Yogesh Kumar, overtook her in the second round and extended his lead to over 3,000 votes by the fourth round.
Despite this setback, Vinesh staged a comeback in the sixth round, gradually closing the gap before overtaking Yogesh by 38 votes in the seventh round. From there, she maintained her lead through to the final round, securing a total victory by 6,015 votes.
Vinesh’s victory is significant, given her recent transition from wrestling to politics. After retiring from her sports career, she joined the Indian National Congress and quickly rose to prominence as a political figure in Haryana. Her win in the Julana constituency showcases her popularity and the trust she has garnered among voters.
Vinesh Phogat's wrestling career saw a disappointing end
Vinesh Phogat's political success follows a remarkable wrestling career. She qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics after winning the Asian qualifiers but announced her retirement from the sport shortly afterwards.
Unfortunately, her Olympic journey ended in disappointment after a failure to make the required weight cut for the women's 50kg final, due to which she was disqualified, losing out on a potential gold medal.