Vinesh Phogat’s outstanding performance at the Paris Olympics has set the sporting world on fire, giving Rahul Gandhi an opportunity he can’t afford to miss as he condemns the present situation. Her victory grabbed the headlines when she became the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the finals and reignited the debate on how India treats its athletes.
Phogat’s triumph—becoming the first Indian to reach the final in women’s wrestling—not only caught headlines but also sparked controversy. Her spectacular victory followed a historic defeat of Tokyo 2020 champion Yui Susaki, winning 5-0 against Guzman. This marked Susaki’s first loss in 82 matches and underscored Phogat’s dominance on the world stage. Nevertheless, besides accolades, political and social conversations have used her success as a front line.
Fiery rhetoric has always characterized Rahul Gandhi; hence taking to social media for a devastating assault on both those who doubted her like him about their colleagues. In a provocative post, Gandhi did not just hail Phogat for such an achievement but held critics responsible for doubting what she can do or what intentions govern her mind. In his tweets, he claimed that the entire system had let down these athletes. He suggested that their victory directly challenges the negative thinkers who constantly bring them down.
Rahul Gandhi’s remarks follow last year’s public protests by Indian wrestlers against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, which exposed allegations of molestation and broader issues in Indian sports. According to Gandhi, therefore, the triumph of Phogat will make these deeply-rooted issues get exposed and tested.
Gandhi’s remarks add political intrigue to her sporting feat as Phogat prepares for her final fight for gold. His critique highlights internal conflicts in Indian sports, making Phogat’s victory a symbol of the struggle against systemic failures.
