Vinesh Phogat Responds to Sakshi Malik’s ‘Greed’ Allegation: "No One Gave Me Anything"

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has finally broken her silence following allegations made by fellow wrestler Sakshi Malik. Sakshi, in her newly released book Witness, claimed that the protest against the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, began to fracture when people close to Vinesh allegedly filled her mind with "greed." Malik also criticized the decision by Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia to accept an exemption from the Asian Games trials, stating it damaged the protest’s credibility.

In response, Vinesh Phogat dismissed these claims, defending her actions and the purpose of the protest. She emphasized that standing up for athletes and fighting for their rights cannot be categorized as "greed." Phogat told ANI, "No one gave me anything in writing, nor can I assume someone's intentions. The good thing is that we fought for a good cause. If playing in the Olympics and winning a medal for our country is greed, then yes, I will carry that 'greed' till my last breath."

Phogat Defends Her Integrity and Commitment to Sports

Vinesh Phogat made it clear that her intentions and actions have always been centered on representing her country and fighting for fellow athletes. "What exactly is greed? If, as an athlete, speaking up for fellow athletes and standing by my sisters is greed, then I consider it a good kind of greed. The desire to play for the country should always remain," Phogat stated, reinforcing her unwavering commitment to her sport and her country.

Sakshi Malik, who was one of the prominent figures in the protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, alleged in her book that decisions made by Vinesh and Bajrang Punia regarding the exemption from trials for the Asian Games created a perception that the protests were driven by selfish motives. According to Malik, this hurt the movement’s image and led to doubts among their supporters.

Allegations from Witness and the Aftermath

Sakshi Malik’s book, co-authored with journalist Jonathan Selvaraj, delves into the challenges the athletes faced during the prolonged protests. In one passage, Sakshi claims, "The old way of thinking selfishly was taking over once again. The people close to Bajrang and Vinesh had started filling their minds with greed." However, she refrained from naming specific individuals responsible for influencing the duo’s decisions.

Malik went on to state, "...Nothing good came of Bajrang and Vinesh's decision to take the exemption... their decision badly hurt the image of our protest. It put us in a situation where many supporters started to think that we were actually in the protest for selfish reasons."

Despite these accusations, Phogat remains steadfast in her stance, insisting that the fight for justice and the welfare of athletes was the primary motive behind their actions.

Conclusion

The disagreement between these two top Indian wrestlers has drawn significant attention, particularly given their shared role in leading a high-profile protest for athlete welfare. While Sakshi Malik’s claims suggest a fracture in the movement, Vinesh Phogat has made it clear that her dedication to the cause and her commitment to representing India remain as strong as ever.