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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Mysuru: Six, including three children, drown in Cauvery during urus gathering
Mysuru: Six people, including three children, drowned in the Cauvery river near Arkeshwara Temple in KR Nagar taluk of Mysuru district on Sunday.
The deceased have been identified as Fatima (42) from Udayagiri in Mysuru; Mohammed Yasin (23), an autorickshaw driver from SBR Layout in Bengaluru; his wife Neha Kausar (19) from the same area; Uzeir (5) from Udayagiri, Mysuru; Emma Aiman (13) from Kadugondanahalli, Bengaluru; and Afif Ahmed (13) from KR Nagar.
According to The New Indian Express, the victims had visited a nearby dargah. While playing in the river, one person slipped into the water, and others entered it in an attempt to rescue them, leading to multiple drownings.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed grief and announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for each of the victims’ families.
Mysuru Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baladangi and KR Nagar police visited the spot and have begun an investigation.
