Time always changes… whether it changes from good to bad or bad to good, but it definitely changes. It was about a year and a quarter ago. Two Olympic medalists of India were struggling on the streets of New Delhi, raising their voice for justice. They were trying to go towards the new Parliament of the country, which was being inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The same Parliament, which represents the people of the country. Some people were moving towards the same Parliament, who had been increasing the pride of the country for the last several years, but then the police stopped them. There was a lot of struggle and in the confrontation with the police, they fell on the road. Someone was pulling their clothes, someone was pulling their hair and someone was not letting them get up by force. Tolerating this behavior on the road were these Olympic medalists, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia. Vinesh Phogat was with them.

About 14 months and 9 days after that incident in New Delhi on 28 May 2023, Vinesh also got her name written in a special list of her fellow strugglers, Sakshi and Bajrang. On the night of Tuesday 6 August 2024, the eyes of the whole country were glued to the TV, computer or mobile screen because India's star wrestler Vinesh Phogat was struggling to make it to the wrestling finals at the Paris Olympics. Cuban wrestler Guzman Lopez was in front of her. In the wrestling match that lasted only 6 minutes, Vinesh won 5-0 and made it to the finals. With this, India's fourth medal in these Olympics was confirmed.

Questions were raised, accusations were made, hatred was spread

Vinesh Phogat became the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the final of any Olympics. With this, it was decided that Vinesh will return with a medal from this Olympics. But even 24 hours before August 6, there was a large section in the country who did not believe in Vinesh. Or say that they did not want to believe in Vinesh because they considered Vinesh a finished wrestler, an opportunistic athlete, a liar and a politician, an 'ungrateful' person who did not want to let anyone else progress in Indian wrestling. All of them started hating Vinesh and the reason for this was Vinesh raising her voice for her and her fellow female wrestlers' rights. For such haters, Vinesh had also said - "My haters, I have a lot for you, which can make you angry, just have some patience."

pic.twitter.com/n4jC9VqmDX

— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) March 12, 2024

Front opened against Brij Bhushan

All this started in January 2023, when Vinesh, Sakshi and Bajrang, along with many young women wrestlers, suddenly opened a front at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. This front was opened against the former President of Wrestling Federation of India and former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, whom many women wrestlers including Vinesh-Sakshi had accused of molestation, sexual exploitation and arbitrariness. They immediately demanded the removal of Brij Bhushan. This movement, which started on that cold afternoon of January, created a storm in the country. No one had expected that the players called the pride of India would take to the streets like this for justice.

After a few days of agitation, finally the then Sports Minister Anurag Thakur met the wrestlers including Vinesh and assured them that their demands would be accepted. Some committees were formed, some action was seen but Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh remained on his post calling these allegations false. Then for a few days the round of allegations and counter-allegations continued and the matter suddenly became sluggish. Seeing no strict action being taken, the wrestlers once again reached Jantar Mantar at the end of April and this time a long protest started. A complaint was given to the police but it was alleged that the police did not register an FIR. After this the players went to the Supreme Court, after which the court ordered to register an FIR.

Clash with police, suffered insult

During this time, the dharna continued and there were occasional clashes with the police. Then on 28 May, on the evening of the inauguration of the new Parliament, the players clashed with the police and it shook the whole country. Many voices were raised in favor of the wrestlers including Vinesh, but there were as many people against them, who were supporting Brij Bhushan on political grounds. Since then, the case is currently going on in the court, statements have been recorded, inquiries have been made, but Vinesh had to focus on her wrestling apart from all this. In this effort, she got injured in August and was out of action for many days.

Now the answer given in Olympics

Even in the qualification earlier this year, Vinesh had to face a lot of opposition and when she did not get success in her favorite 53 kg category, she took a big challenge and staked her claim in 50 kg and booked a ticket to Paris. Now in Paris, within just 24 hours, Vinesh has defeated the world's number one wrestler and has also entered the final. She has become the first female wrestler of the country to do so and has also given her haters another reason to be angry with her, which she had promised.