Indian Olympic wrestling star Vinesh Phogat may have been disqualified from the Paris Games, but she’s determined to keep fighting for her constituency and against sexual harassment of women as she contests state elections tomorrow.
Phogat retired from wrestling after she was disqualified ahead of the women’s 50kg freestyle final for failing to make weight.
She now spends her days campaigning in her native state of Haryana for the main opposition Congress party, receiving blessings from party elders and building on the momentum that she and other wrestlers created last year by protesting against a politician charged with sexually harassing women athletes.
“I’m here to bring change in all sectors and take care of everyone equally, especially the women in my constituency,” Phogat, 30, said ahead of one of her door-to-door campaigns.
“It’s crucial that the struggle we started against sexual harassment two years ago meets a beautiful and fulfilling ending. Harassment happens in all sectors, some cases come into public light and some do not.”
Phogat is a celebrity in the Julana constituency of Haryana, and her family of wrestlers were the subject of Bollywood blockbuster Dangal.
She recalled how empty she felt after her disqualification from the Olympics, but said the support of her community helped her find a new purpose in politics.
“I used to stay home all day. But hundreds of people visited me every day, asked me to not abandon the spirit of the fighter,” she said.
Phogat’s new career will be challenging. Congress has won the Julana constituency only four times since 1967, although opinion polls predict the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party could lose the Haryana elections this time around.
Results will be out on Oct 8.
“If women didn’t support women, who would,” said a young woman voting for the first time.
Reuters
