Those who want medals, can buy them for ₹15: Bajrang Punia after Vinesh Phogat loses Olympic appeal
New Delhi: Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Bajrang Punia took to social media on Wednesday to express his support for wrestler Vinesh Phogat after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed her appeal for a joint silver medal. Phogat was disqualified after missing the 50kg weight limit by 100 grams before her gold medal bout at the Games.
Punia praised Phogat, calling her the "Kohinoor of the country" and reaffirming her status as a national pride. “I believe your medal was snatched away in this darkness, You are shining like a diamond in the whole world today. The pride of world champion Hindustan Rustam-e-Hind Vinesh Phogat you are the Kohinoor of the country. The world is cheering your name everywhere,” he wrote on X (formerly called Twitter).
In his post, Punia also took a swipe at the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for his alleged comment that protesting wrestlers should return their prize money, as medals are "only worth 15 rupees." “Those who want medals, can buy them for Rs 15 each," Punia added.
Punia, along with Phogat and fellow Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik, led protests last year against Singh for alleged sexual harassment of female wrestlers during his tenure. Punia had earlier criticised Singh's purported remark, stating that the medal Singh demeaned by saying it was worth just 15 rupees had been "earned after 15 years of toil." Malik highlighted that they had sacrificed everything for it and added that it was a shame the country’s athletes were witnessing such dark days.
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KKR defeat LSG via Super Over
Lucknow (PTI): Kolkata Knight Riders edged Lucknow Super Giants via Super Overs in a battle between two bottom-placed teams in the IPL, here on Sunday.
Chasing a modest 156, LSG suffered a batting collapse and managed to tie the contest and take it to Super Over with No. 9 Mohammed Shami striking a last-ball six against a wayward Kartik Tyagi, who leaked 16 runs in the final over.
But Sunil Narine bowled a stunning Super Over conceding just one run and taking two wickets to give KKR an easy target.
Rinku Singh then finished the chase with a boundary off first ball from Prince Yadav.
Earlier the KKR were in deep trouble with 93/7 in 15 overs but Rinku smashed a sensational 83 not out from 51 balls including four sixes in a row in the final over to lift them to 155/7.
Cameron Green (34) was the only other batter to reach double-digit scores as KKR suffered a familiar batting meltdown with Mohsin taking his maiden fifer.
In reply, LSG continued their dismal show with the bat to succumb to their fifth loss in a row.
Brief Scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 155/7; 20 overs (Rinku Singh 83 not out, Cameron Green 34; Mohsin Khan 5/23). Lucknow Super Giants 155/8; 20 overs (Rishabh Pant 42). KKR won via Super Over.
