Wrestler Vinesh Phogat has addressed recent allegations made by fellow athlete Sakshi Malik regarding their participation in protests against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. In her recently released book, Witness, Malik accused Phogat and fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia of undermining the protest’s credibility by opting for exemptions from the Asian Games trials, suggesting their actions were influenced by “greed.”
Malik criticized Phogat and Punia for their choices, arguing that these decisions portrayed the movement as “selfish” and led supporters to question the athletes’ motivations. She stated, “Nothing good came of Bajrang and Vinesh’s decision to take the exemption… it put us in a situation where many supporters started to think that we were actually in the protest for selfish reasons.”
In response, Phogat questioned the characterization of their actions as driven by greed. He remarked, “Greed for what? 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.” He emphasized the importance of their fight for justice and representation in sports, asserting, “If standing up for fellow athletes and my sisters is greed, then I consider it good.”
Bajrang Punia also chimed in, downplaying any rift between himself and Malik. He reiterated that Malik’s opinions are her own but expressed confidence in their friendship, indicating that the controversy should not overshadow their shared goals.
This ongoing tension within the wrestling community highlights the challenges athletes face as they balance personal ambitions with collective advocacy against harassment in their sport. The athletes’ responses underscore a commitment to their cause while navigating the complexities of their relationships and public perceptions.
