‘You Have Not Lost. You Are Our Hero’: Letter of Feminist Solidarity With Vinesh Phogat

The 113 people who endorsed the letter also called for an investigation into the circumstances behind Phogat's disqualification, were it not for which she would have won at least a silver medal.
Image: Hindustan Times

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.

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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! ✊🏽

  1. Devyani Bharadwaj, Educationist and Writer, Delhi
  2. Annie Raja NFIW
  3. Kavita Srivastava, PUCL
  4. Jagmati Sangwan, AIDWA
  5. Sarika Shrivastava NFIW
  6. Dr. Seema Jain, AIDWA Rajasthan
  7. G. Jhansi, Poonam Kaushik, All India Coordination POW -PMS- IJM.
  8. Neeta Hardikar, Anna Suraksha Adhikar Abhiyan, Gujarat
  9. Maya John, Centre for Struggling Women (CSW)
  10. Nivedita Jha, NFIW
  11. Adv Vertika Mani, PUCL Delhi
  12. Meera Sanghamitra (All India Feminist Alliance – ALIFA and NAPM)
  13. Deepthi Sirla, ALIFA, Telangana
  14. Asomi Gogoi, Asom Mahila Sangha (NFIW)
  15. Suneetha, ALIFA, Hyderabad.
  16. Mariam Dhawale AIDWA
  17. Navsharan Singh, Social Activist, Delhi and Panjab
  18. P. K. Sreemathi AIDWA
  19. Poushali Basak, Researcher and Activist
  20. Ankana Dey, Social Psychologist, Queer Feminist Activist
  21. Sejal Dand, Gujarat Mahila Manch
  22. Nisha Biswas, Feminists in Resistance, Kolkata
  23. Nita Mahadev, Gujarat Lok Samiti
  24. Saloni Mundra, Aajeevika Bureau
  25. Seema Azad, PUCL, Uttar Pradaeh
  26. Aruna Roy, NFIW
  27. Meena Saraswathi Seshu, Sangli, Maharashtra
  28. Prakriti, All India Feminist Alliance, Delhi
  29. Varsha Bharghavi: Varsha, Research Scholar, Telangana
  30. Laxmi Murthy, Bangalore
  31. Mamata Dash, ALIFA, Delhi
  32. Jarjum Ete Arunachal: Jarjum Gamlin Ete, APWWS/AIUFWP, Arunachal Pradesh
  33. Anannya Chatterjee, PhD student, Delhi
  34. Shiva, ALIFA, Delhi
  35. Harpuneet Kaur, ALIFA , PFUS, PU Chandigarh
  36. Tashi Choedup, Buddhist monastic, Social Justice activist, Hyderabad
  37. Jashodhara, Uttarakhand
  38. Aditi Maddali, Researcher, Bombay
  39. Arundhati Ghosh, Cultural Practitioner, Bangalore
  40. Dr. Vandana Prasad, Public Health Professional, New Delhi
  41. K. Sajaya, Independent Journalist, Hyderabad
  42. Anita Cheria, OpenSpace, Bangalore
  43. Khairunnisha, Social Activist, Gujarat
  44. Radhika Desai, Marathmoli, Maharashtra
  45. Simin Akhter, CTF, ALIFA
  46. Dr. Sanju ALIFA, Sadulpur, Rajasthan
  47. Prerna Mishra, Independent Researcher, Bhopal
  48. S. Seethalakshmi, independent Researcher, Hyderabad
  49. Ajitha George, social activist, Jharkhand
  50. Madhuri, Social Activist, Madhya Pradesh
  51. Sunita Singh, Social Activist, Uttar Pradesh
  52. Renuka Kad, Social Activist, Aurangabad
  53. J Devika, feminist scholar, Kerala
  54. Swathi SB, Health Rights Researcher, Bangalore
  55. Tejaswini Madabhushi, Hyderabad for Feminism, Hyderabad
  56. Nandita Haksar, Feminist, Human Rights Activist
  57. Dr. Gabriele Dietrich, Penn Urimay Iyakkam and ALIFA-NAPM, TN
  58. Kamal Thakar, Sahiyar Sangathan, Gujarat
  59. Chayanika Shah Hasrat-e-Zindagi Mamuli Mumbai
  60. Roshani Sadhu, Panam Mahila Sangathan, Gujarat
  61. Neelima, Nishant Natya Manch
  62. Sumedha Bodh, PUCL Delhi
  63. Tarkeshwari Negi, PUCL Delhi
  64. Mani Mala, PUCL Delhi
  65. Runu Chakraborty, PUCL Delhi
  66. Dr. Veena Shatrughna, Scientist & Nutritionist, Bengaluru
  67. Roshani Sadhu, Shehara, Gujarat
  68. Tarulata Chauhan, Godhra, Gujarat
  69. Madhuben, Morbi, Gujarat
  70. Nikita Naidu, Climate Action, Hyderabad
  71. Mithun, Public Health Researcher, Hyderabad
  72. Anita Mathur, Women’s Activist, Jaipur
  73. Shabnam, Vishakha, Jaipur
  74. Shakuntala Pamecha, Rajsamand Jan Vikas Sansthan
  75. Vijaylakshmi, PUCL, Jaipur
  76. Nishat Hussain and Jahanara, National Muslim Women’s Welfare, Society, Jaipur
  77. Dr. Malti Gupta, RUWA and NFIW
  78. Dr. Pritam Pal, Women’s Activist, Jaipur
  79. Sumitra Thacker, Gujarat,
  80. Manjula Pradeep, social and women’s  activist, Gujarat
  81. Kailas Baria, Social Worker, Gujarat
  82. Jahnvi Andharia, New Delhi
  83. Apeksha Vora, Bengaluru
  84. Anuradha Banerji, Independent Researcher cum Saheli, women’s resource centre
  85. Vani Subramaniam, Independent Film Make,
  86. Savita Sharma, Saheli Women’s Resource centre
  87. Ashima Roy Chowdhury, Saheli Women’s Resource Centre
  88. Smita Gupta, Economist, N Delhi
  89. Amrita Howlader, Feminist in Resistance, Kolkata
  90. P Padmavathi, Ex MLA
  91. Dr. Shashilata Puri, RUWA
  92. Abha Bhaiya, Feminist Activist, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh
  93. Lara Jesani, PUCL, Maharashtra
  94. Mamta Jaitly, Vividha Mahila Alaikhan evam Sandharbh Kendra
  95. Dr. Renuka Pamecha, Women’s Rehabilitation Group
  96. Kanchan Mathur, Independent Scholar
  97. Prof. Asha Kaushik, RUWA
  98. Nisha Sidhu, NFIW
  99. Isha Sharma, NFIW
  100. Komal Srivastava, BGVS
  101. Asha Mishra, BGVS
  102. Aishwarya Ravikumar, PUCL Karnataka
  103. Manavi Atri, PUCL Karnataka
  104. Sumitra Chopra, AIDWA
  105. Natasha Narwal, Research Scholar and Activist
  106. Gargie Mangulkar, Pune
  107. Vanita Nayak Mukherjee, Researcher and Independent Activist
  108. Sadhna Arya, Retired  Professor, Delhi University
  109. Ammu Abraham, Mumbai
  110. Tarini Manchanda, ALIFA Delhi
  111. Nagasaila Advocate, Madras High Court
  112. NS Tanvi, Advocate Madras High court
  113. Sitara, PUCL, Karoli 

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