‘100 gms excess can’t be political’: Fmr athlete on Phogat ouster

Even as the nation goes through tumultuous times as Vinesh Phogat gets disqualified at the Paris Olympics, owing to being 100 gms overweight, NewsFirst Prime caught up with Arjun Devaiah, Asian Athletics Silver medallist, who gave his insights on the matter. 

Also Read: ‘Weigh-ins are organised every morning’: Sports minister on Phogat’s ouster 

On the politicisation of the developments, he said, “I am the last person to talk about that. If these allegations are true, political interference could have happened much earlier. 100gms of excess weight can’t be political.” 

Earlier in the day, as the news spread, everyone was shell-shocked, including the Prime Minister. Expressing his support for the star, he said the nation stands behind her and has urged the IOA president PT Usha to lodge a formal complaint and explore ways of reconciliation. 

On the other hand, her uncle Mahavir Phogat sounded optimistic, when he said that she would indeed win a gold for the country in the future.