Vinesh Phogat goes with Rs 4 crore prize from Haryana government, declines job and land offer
New Delhi: Haryana’s government offered Vinesh Phogat, a wrestler and politician, several incentives comparable to those given to Olympic silver medalists. Phogat chose a cash reward.
Thirty-year-old wrestler Vinesh Phogat, a three-time Olympian, was barred from the 2024 Paris Olympics due to exceeding the weight limit for her 50kg category gold medal match. Phogat, who previously led protests against the former Wrestling Federation of India president, Brij Bhushan Singh, also serves as a Congress Member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly, having won the Julana constituency election last year.
The Haryana government recently presented three options to wrestler Phogat under its sports policy.
On Thursday, official sources reported that she chose a cash prize of 4 crore rupees.
On Tuesday, she notified the state sports department of her decision via letter.
Haryana’s Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini, recently declared that the state government will grant wrestler Phogat the same rewards as an Olympic silver medalist, according to the state’s sports policy.
Haryana’s sports policy offers athletes three incentives: a ₹4 crore cash award, a Group A government position as an Outstanding Sportsperson, and a plot of land from the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran.
The government recently inquired about the benefits the individual preferred to receive.
In March, during Haryana’s Assembly Budget Session, wrestler Vinesh Phogat pressed Sports Minister Sandeep Saini on his earlier pledge to recognize her achievements, despite her disqualification from the 2024 Paris Olympics 50kg gold medal match due to exceeding the weight limit.
“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.
A procedural ruling led to Phogat’s disqualification from the Paris Olympics, according to Saini.
The Chief Minister voiced his support for Phogat, declaring her an honor to Haryana and vowing to protect her reputation.
News