NEW DELHI: The Congress Party has given an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha, calling for the retraction of Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya's statement concerning wrestler Vinesh Phogat's disqualification. The controversy arises from Mandaviya's remark that Rs. 70.45575 lakhs were spent on Phogat, which Congress views as an attempt to deflect from the real issue.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore, who issued the notice, expressed disappointment over Phogat's recent disqualification due to a minor weight discrepancy, which has dashed her Olympic dreams. Tagore criticized the Sports Minister's reference to the financial support provided to Phogat, emphasizing that "this amount is not an asset of the BJP; Phogat is a national asset."

Tagore condemned Mandaviya's statement and urged the government to handle the matter with the seriousness it deserves. "We condemn the Minister's insensitive statement and urge the government to address this issue with the seriousness it deserves. Our athletes deserve genuine support, not mere financial figures. We call for the withdrawal of the minister's statement and a more respectful approach to our sportspeople's challenges," Tagore stated.

Mandaviya, speaking in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, defended the government's support for Phogat, detailing the extensive financial and logistical assistance provided to her. He highlighted that Phogat was given top-notch training resources, including renowned coach Woller Akos from Hungary, physiotherapist Ashwini Patil, and various other specialists, all amounting to Rs 70.45 lakhs in support.

In a related development, senior advocate Harish Salve will represent the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Friday in a hearing related to Phogat's disqualification from the Paris Olympics. Salve's legal expertise is expected to be instrumental in navigating the complexities of the case.

Following her disqualification, Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling on Thursday. In an emotional post on social media platform X, Phogat shared her feelings of defeat, writing, "Maa kushti (wrestling) won against me, I lost. Forgive me, your dream and my courage have been broken. I don't have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024. I will always be indebted to you all for forgiveness."

What did the Sports Minister say in Parliament on Vinesh Phogat's defeat

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat Retires in Shock Move After Gold Medal Disqualification