New Delhi: A group of 113 people endorsed a letter expressing ‘feminist solidarity’ with Vinesh Phogat following her disqualification from a crucial game in the Olympics, saying there “should be an investigation” into “where and by whom the mistake has been made”.
“Congratulations!! You have not lost. You are our hero and will remain so,” the letter, also released in Hindi, opened by saying.
It continued: “Yesterday in Paris you showed what you really are. Your skill is unmatched and there is no height that you can’t scale.”
Asking Phogat not to be disappointed by what happened, the letter says, “We understand that it was not your responsibility to take care of your weight”, before calling for an investigation into the circumstances behind her disqualification.
Phogat qualified for the final match in the 50 kg women’s freestyle wrestling event at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday (August 6), but was disqualified early today when she was found to weigh more than 50 kg.
“Despite the best efforts by the team through the night, she weighed in a few grams over 50 kg this morning,” the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said in a press release on Wednesday.
According to The Hindu, which cited chief coach Virender Dahiya, Phogat weighed exactly 100 grams over 50 kg today.
The Wrestling Federation of India has appealed to global wrestling governing body United World Wrestling (UWW) asking it to reconsider Phogat’s disqualification, and the IOA has lodged its “strong protest” with the UWW.
The open letter to Phogat, the English version of which is reproduced in full at the end of this article, also expressed protest against her disqualification.
“When you return from Paris, we will all meet once again at Jantar Mantar and celebrate your success,” the letter said, adding: “Winning a medal or not is not the measure of victory. The measure of success and victory is your determination and courage.”
If she was not disqualified, Phogat was guaranteed at least a silver medal at the Olympics event today and was set to face off against the US’s Sarah Hildebrandt in the final. She had earlier beaten Japan’s Yui Susaki 3-2 in an upset.
Last year, Phogat was at the forefront of protests against former Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is accused of sexually harassing multiple wrestlers and against whom a court ordered the framing of charges in May.
During and following the protests, Phogat faced a vicious hate campaign, including death threats, unfold against her, with Singh and many others questioning her abilities.
Singh denies the allegations against him.
§
OPEN LETTER TO VINESH PHOGAT
YOU ARE OUR CHAMPION!!
Feminist solidarity with Vinesh
Dear Vinesh,
Congratulations!!
You have not lost. You are our hero and will remain so. Yesterday in Paris you showed what you really are. Your skill is unmatched and there is no height that you can’t scale.
Please don’t be disappointed by this ‘disqualification’. We understand that it was not your responsibility to take care of your weight. There should be an investigation as to where and by whom the mistake has been made. We express our protest against your disqualification and would like to request you not to feel sad in this moment.
You will keep flying high, do not lose hope. You are and will remain our hero.
When you return from Paris, we will all meet once again at Jantar Mantar and celebrate your success.
Winning a medal or not is not the measure of victory. The measure of success and victory is your determination and courage.
Justice-loving and feminist saathis of India and around the world were, are and will always be with you! ✊🏽
- Devyani Bharadwaj, Educationist and Writer, Delhi
- Annie Raja NFIW
- Kavita Srivastava, PUCL
- Jagmati Sangwan, AIDWA
- Sarika Shrivastava NFIW
- Dr. Seema Jain, AIDWA Rajasthan
- G. Jhansi, Poonam Kaushik, All India Coordination POW -PMS- IJM.
- Neeta Hardikar, Anna Suraksha Adhikar Abhiyan, Gujarat
- Maya John, Centre for Struggling Women (CSW)
- Nivedita Jha, NFIW
- Adv Vertika Mani, PUCL Delhi
- Meera Sanghamitra (All India Feminist Alliance – ALIFA and NAPM)
- Deepthi Sirla, ALIFA, Telangana
- Asomi Gogoi, Asom Mahila Sangha (NFIW)
- Suneetha, ALIFA, Hyderabad.
- Mariam Dhawale AIDWA
- Navsharan Singh, Social Activist, Delhi and Panjab
- P. K. Sreemathi AIDWA
- Poushali Basak, Researcher and Activist
- Ankana Dey, Social Psychologist, Queer Feminist Activist
- Sejal Dand, Gujarat Mahila Manch
- Nisha Biswas, Feminists in Resistance, Kolkata
- Nita Mahadev, Gujarat Lok Samiti
- Saloni Mundra, Aajeevika Bureau
- Seema Azad, PUCL, Uttar Pradaeh
- Aruna Roy, NFIW
- Meena Saraswathi Seshu, Sangli, Maharashtra
- Prakriti, All India Feminist Alliance, Delhi
- Varsha Bharghavi: Varsha, Research Scholar, Telangana
- Laxmi Murthy, Bangalore
- Mamata Dash, ALIFA, Delhi
- Jarjum Ete Arunachal: Jarjum Gamlin Ete, APWWS/AIUFWP, Arunachal Pradesh
- Anannya Chatterjee, PhD student, Delhi
- Shiva, ALIFA, Delhi
- Harpuneet Kaur, ALIFA , PFUS, PU Chandigarh
- Tashi Choedup, Buddhist monastic, Social Justice activist, Hyderabad
- Jashodhara, Uttarakhand
- Aditi Maddali, Researcher, Bombay
- Arundhati Ghosh, Cultural Practitioner, Bangalore
- Dr. Vandana Prasad, Public Health Professional, New Delhi
- K. Sajaya, Independent Journalist, Hyderabad
- Anita Cheria, OpenSpace, Bangalore
- Khairunnisha, Social Activist, Gujarat
- Radhika Desai, Marathmoli, Maharashtra
- Simin Akhter, CTF, ALIFA
- Dr. Sanju ALIFA, Sadulpur, Rajasthan
- Prerna Mishra, Independent Researcher, Bhopal
- S. Seethalakshmi, independent Researcher, Hyderabad
- Ajitha George, social activist, Jharkhand
- Madhuri, Social Activist, Madhya Pradesh
- Sunita Singh, Social Activist, Uttar Pradesh
- Renuka Kad, Social Activist, Aurangabad
- J Devika, feminist scholar, Kerala
- Swathi SB, Health Rights Researcher, Bangalore
- Tejaswini Madabhushi, Hyderabad for Feminism, Hyderabad
- Nandita Haksar, Feminist, Human Rights Activist
- Dr. Gabriele Dietrich, Penn Urimay Iyakkam and ALIFA-NAPM, TN
- Kamal Thakar, Sahiyar Sangathan, Gujarat
- Chayanika Shah Hasrat-e-Zindagi Mamuli Mumbai
- Roshani Sadhu, Panam Mahila Sangathan, Gujarat
- Neelima, Nishant Natya Manch
- Sumedha Bodh, PUCL Delhi
- Tarkeshwari Negi, PUCL Delhi
- Mani Mala, PUCL Delhi
- Runu Chakraborty, PUCL Delhi
- Dr. Veena Shatrughna, Scientist & Nutritionist, Bengaluru
- Roshani Sadhu, Shehara, Gujarat
- Tarulata Chauhan, Godhra, Gujarat
- Madhuben, Morbi, Gujarat
- Nikita Naidu, Climate Action, Hyderabad
- Mithun, Public Health Researcher, Hyderabad
- Anita Mathur, Women’s Activist, Jaipur
- Shabnam, Vishakha, Jaipur
- Shakuntala Pamecha, Rajsamand Jan Vikas Sansthan
- Vijaylakshmi, PUCL, Jaipur
- Nishat Hussain and Jahanara, National Muslim Women’s Welfare, Society, Jaipur
- Dr. Malti Gupta, RUWA and NFIW
- Dr. Pritam Pal, Women’s Activist, Jaipur
- Sumitra Thacker, Gujarat,
- Manjula Pradeep, social and women’s activist, Gujarat
- Kailas Baria, Social Worker, Gujarat
- Jahnvi Andharia, New Delhi
- Apeksha Vora, Bengaluru
- Anuradha Banerji, Independent Researcher cum Saheli, women’s resource centre
- Vani Subramaniam, Independent Film Make,
- Savita Sharma, Saheli Women’s Resource centre
- Ashima Roy Chowdhury, Saheli Women’s Resource Centre
- Smita Gupta, Economist, N Delhi
- Amrita Howlader, Feminist in Resistance, Kolkata
- P Padmavathi, Ex MLA
- Dr. Shashilata Puri, RUWA
- Abha Bhaiya, Feminist Activist, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh
- Lara Jesani, PUCL, Maharashtra
- Mamta Jaitly, Vividha Mahila Alaikhan evam Sandharbh Kendra
- Dr. Renuka Pamecha, Women’s Rehabilitation Group
- Kanchan Mathur, Independent Scholar
- Prof. Asha Kaushik, RUWA
- Nisha Sidhu, NFIW
- Isha Sharma, NFIW
- Komal Srivastava, BGVS
- Asha Mishra, BGVS
- Aishwarya Ravikumar, PUCL Karnataka
- Manavi Atri, PUCL Karnataka
- Sumitra Chopra, AIDWA
- Natasha Narwal, Research Scholar and Activist
- Gargie Mangulkar, Pune
- Vanita Nayak Mukherjee, Researcher and Independent Activist
- Sadhna Arya, Retired Professor, Delhi University
- Ammu Abraham, Mumbai
- Tarini Manchanda, ALIFA Delhi
- Nagasaila Advocate, Madras High Court
- NS Tanvi, Advocate Madras High court
- Sitara, PUCL, Karoli