In a candid outburst from Chandigarh on February 26, Congress MLA and Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat lamented the sidelining of athletes in government agendas. ‘Players are no longer the government’s priority—this is heartbreaking,’ she declared, targeting the glaring omission of sports in the Governor’s policy address.
Phogat, who has transitioned from wrestling mats to legislative battles, painted a grim picture of the sports ecosystem. ‘Sports infrastructure is crumbling,’ she observed. ‘Coaching posts numbering nearly 1,000 lie vacant, equipment purchases are stalled, and basic information requests go unanswered. Ministers evade accountability with evasive replies, yet we persist in holding them to task.’
Her frustration stems from a pattern of neglect, exemplified by the Governor’s speech that bypassed athletes entirely. ‘This absence speaks volumes,’ Phogat remarked. ‘We’re pushing to place sports on par with vital sectors, but without priority status, progress stalls.’
Advocating relentless oversight, she noted, ‘It’s not about blind optimism; it’s about consistent reminders. Sports ministers must be compelled to fulfill their mandate for development.’
Phogat’s recent clash with the Haryana Wrestling Association over opaque trial rules for the 2026 Federation Cup further illustrates her commitment. She decried the restrictive eligibility—medals only from specific 2025 events or internationals—as discriminatory against dedicated athletes grinding daily.
As voices like Phogat’s grow louder, the sports ministry faces mounting pressure to address systemic failures and reinstate athletes at the heart of national development plans.