Olympic wrestlers from India, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, made their political debut on Friday by joining the opposition Congress party.
A year earlier, they had staged a protest against the head of the Indian Olympic Committee over allegations of sexual harassment.
The decision was made just a few weeks after Phogat’s tearful return from the Olympics in Paris, when she had to starve herself for a week in order to meet the weight requirement for the women’s 50 kg freestyle final.
It forced the 30-year-old gold winner from the Asian Games to declare her retirement from competition.
She received an overwhelming amount of support, and after landing in Delhi, hundreds of moved-eyed fans and wrestlers drove her to her hometown in northern India.
Their foray into politics coincides with provincial elections in their native state of Haryana, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is vying for power for a record third term.
Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal told reporters following the wrestlers’ induction into the party in New Delhi that they had not only given honor to the nation in the realm of sports but had also valiantly battled against injustice in society at large.
Phogat told reporters, “We will prevail in court and in life. Our fight will not end.” “I am proud to be alongside a party that stands with women and opposes any injustice.”
