Vinesh Phogat Seeks Both Cash Reward and Plot from Haryana Govt, Sparks Dilemma

Chandigarh, April 11: Olympian and newly elected Congress MLA Vinesh Phogat has stirred a policy conundrum in Haryana’s Sports Department by requesting both a Rs 4 crore cash reward and a residential plot — benefits usually granted individually to Olympic medallists.

The twist comes after the Haryana government, led by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, had earlier offered Phogat a choice among three compensations: a cash prize, a Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) plot, or a Group A job under the Outstanding Sportspersons category. The offer was extended as a “special case” following Phogat’s unfortunate disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024 for narrowly exceeding the weight limit by just over 100 grams — a disqualification that came despite her being well within the limit during initial weigh-in.

Phogat, however, declined to choose one and instead opted for both the Rs 4 crore and the plot. Her request has left the Sports Department in a quandary. “She was supposed to pick one. But she’s requested both,” an official confirmed, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official further noted that given her role as an MLA, Phogat was unlikely to consider the government job.

Vinesh Phogat had reached the finals in the 50 kg wrestling category at the Paris Olympics. Just hours before her gold-medal bout on August 7, she was disqualified for exceeding the category’s weight limit by a slight margin. The disqualification drew emotional responses from across the nation. In a gesture of support, CM Saini had then posted on X: “The entire country, not just Haryana, is proud of Vinesh Phogat. She will receive all benefits due to a silver medallist.”

Following this, Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling — a decision that added to the poignancy of her Olympic journey. Later in the year, she made her political debut, joining the Congress party on September 6, 2024, and successfully contesting the Julana Assembly seat with a margin of over 6,000 votes.

Her political shift and election victory perhaps bolstered her stance when she recently reminded CM Saini of his earlier promise during the Budget session. Consequently, on March 25, the Haryana Cabinet granted her eligibility for silver medallist benefits, despite her disqualification — a rare exception under state policy.

Haryana is known for its generous sports policy, offering Rs 6 crore for Olympic gold, Rs 4 crore for silver, and Rs 2.5 crore for bronze. Even Olympic participants receive Rs 15 lakh as a token of encouragement. Still, the policy has traditionally enforced a “one benefit only” rule to avoid overlap.

Now, the government is treading carefully, weighing the implications of granting multiple benefits. “There’s no precedent for this. If we give both to her, we’ll have to be ready for similar demands in future,” another official noted.

Despite repeated attempts, Vinesh Phogat could not be reached for comment.

As the ball lands squarely in the state government’s court, the decision they make may well set a precedent — not just for sportspersons-turned-politicians, but for how compassion, policy, and public promises intersect in the world of sports and governance.