That’s her personal opinion: Vinesh Phogat on Sakshi Malik’s ‘greed’ claims

Former wrestler and Congress MLA Vinesh Phogat has rejected Sakshi Malik’s claim that some people close to her and Bajrang Punia “began to fill their minds with greed”.
Vinesh was a prominent member of the wrestlers’ protest against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh along with Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia. The Congress MLA was reacting to claims made by Sakshi Malik in her recently-released book ‘Witness’.
In her book, Sakshi Malik claimed that Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia’s decision to accept exemption from the Asian Games trials last year hit the image of their protest as it made their movement seem “selfish”. She further claimed that their protest developed cracks when “people close to” Bajrang and Vinesh began to fill their minds with “greed”.
Reacting to this, Sakshi Malik said, “Greed for what? You should ask her (Sakshi Malik). If speaking for the sisters is greed, I have this greed and this is good. If this is the greed — to bring an Olympic medal by representing the country, it’s a good greed.”
Vinesh further said that until she, Sakshi and Bajrang are alive, the “fight cannot be weak”.
“Those who want to win should never be weak. They should always choose to fight on the field. For that you will have to be tough and face the obstacles. And we are ready for fight,” news agency PTI quoted her as saying.
Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and others had alleged that Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh sexually harassed women wrestlers during his tenure as WFI president. The case is still being heard in a Delhi court.
The ad-hoc committee, that took over the administration of wrestling after WFI’s suspension, exempted Bajrang and Vinesh from the 2023 Asian Games trials but Sakshi decided not to seek the favour as suggested by her colleagues.
Eventually, Sakshi did not compete, while Vinesh suffered an injury before the Games and Bajrang failed to win a medal in Hangzhou.
Both Vinesh and Bajrang joined the Congress party before the Haryana assembly elections recently. Vinesh was elected from Julana constituency.
Before the political plunge, Vinesh endured a heartbreaking sporting low when she was disqualified from the 50kg category final in Paris Olympics for being 100gm overweight.