Babita expresses hurt over Vinesh Phogat’s failure to thank father Mahavir Singh

Former Indian wrestler Babita Phogat has expressed her disappointment that her cousin, Vinesh Phogat, did not acknowledge Babita's father, Mahavir Singh Phogat, in a recent thank-you note following her disqualification from the Paris Olympics.

Vinesh, who missed the 50kg final by just 100 grams, thanked her coaches and support staff on the social media platform X but notably omitted Mahavir, a Dronacharya awardee and her first coach (foster father too), who played a crucial role in her wrestling career.

Babita, Mahavir's daughter, voiced her concerns during a podcast with journalist Sushant Sinha, emphasising the sacrifices her father made for Vinesh's success. She recalled that her father was deeply affected by Vinesh's disqualification and noted that she had only seen him cry on three occasions: once when she and her sisters got married, again when her uncle died, and finally when Vinesh was disqualified from the Olympics.

Babita further explained that after their uncle's death, Vinesh and her siblings briefly quit wrestling, but it was Mahavir who convinced them to return. Babita expressed disappointment that, despite his efforts, her father was not acknowledged in Vinesh's note.