Paris: Tokyo Games bronze medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia on Tuesday (August 6, 2024) described fellow grappler Vinesh Phogat as the “lioness of India” after she entered her maiden Olympic semifinals after notching up stunning victories in Paris.
The 29-year-old Vinesh stunned defending champion Yui Susaki of Japan and higher-ranked Ukrainian Oksana Livach to cruise to the women’s 50kg semifinals on Tuesday.
“Vinesh Phogat is the lioness of India who won back to back matches today. Defeated 4-time World Champion and defending Olympic champion. After that he defeated the former World Champion in the quarterfinals,” Punia wrote on his ‘X’ handle.
Punia, Vinesh and Sakshi Malik had led a long sit-in protest in Delhi early last year against alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers by former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
“But let me tell you one thing. This girl was kicked and crushed in her own country. This girl was dragged on the streets in her country. This girl is going to conquer the world but she lost to the system in this country.”
Vinesh defeated Livach, a former European champion and 2018 world championship bronze-medallist, 7-5 in a hard-fought quarterfinal bout to get closer to an elusive Olympic medal in her third attempt.
Bajrang and Vinesh were part of many top-level wrestlers who had protested on the streets against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh, accusing him of sexual harassment towards women wrestlers. Now, with Vinesh guaranteed a medal at Paris 2024, Bajrang Punia has made sure that the mistreatment towards Vinesh isn’t forgotten.
“These are the daughters of the country, who have always brought glory to the country. Those who have always placed thorns in the path of these daughters will at least learn a lesson from these daughters and will refrain from sowing thorns in their path in future,” posted Bajrang Punia on X.
“But let me tell you one thing, This girl was kicked and crushed in her own country. This girl was dragged on the streets in her country. This girl is going to conquer the world but she lost to the system in this country,” Bajrang had tweeted.
