After Vinesh Phogat became the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the final of the Olympic Games on Tuesday, wishes began to pour in for the grappler.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi hailed Phogat and said the identity of champions is that they give their answer on the field.

Phogat (50kg) became the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the final of the Olympic Games with a convincing 5-0 win over Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez in the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024 on Tuesday. With the semifinal win, Vinesh guaranteed herself at least a silver medal.

In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, “After defeating three top wrestlers of the world in a single day, the whole country is emotional along with Vinesh.” “Those who refused to acknowledge the struggle of Vinesh and her friends, even raised questions on their intentions and abilities, all of them have got an answer,” the former Congress chief said.

“Today, the entire system of power which made her shed tears of blood lay shattered in front of the brave daughter of India,” Gandhi said, adding this is the identity of champions, they give their answer on the field.

The former Congress chief urged her to go for the gold medal and said, “Best wishes Vinesh. The echo of your success in Paris is being heard clearly in Delhi.”

एक ही दिन में दुनिया की तीन धुरंधर पहलवानों को हराने के बाद आज विनेश के साथ-साथ पूरा देश भावुक है।

जिन्होंने भी विनेश और उसके साथियों के संघर्ष को झुठलाया, उनकी नीयत और काबिलियत तक पर प्रश्नचिन्ह खड़े किए, उन सभी को जवाब मिल चुका है।

आज भारत की बहादुर बेटी के सामने सत्ता का… pic.twitter.com/MzfIrYfRog

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 6, 2024

Besides Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also hailed the grappler for her performance and said, “What a performance!
Congratulations @Phogat_Vinesh on your stupendous performance at #Paris2024 This win in the Women’s Freestyle 50kg Semis has assured you a place on the podium,marking a 1️⃣st for any female wrestler from India All the best for the final match!.

What a performance!
Congratulations @Phogat_Vinesh on your stupendous performance at #Paris2024
This win in the Women’s Freestyle 50kg Semis has assured you a place on the podium,marking a 1️⃣st for any female wrestler from India
All the best for the final match!#Cheer4Bharat pic.twitter.com/qh4d8NdcFG

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) August 6, 2024

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in a post on her WhatsApp channel, said Vinesh Phogat has created history.

“She reached the finals by winning three important matches in a single day. My sister, we all are eagerly waiting for the medal. Your every move on the field is thrilling us all. The prayers of crores of Indians are with you. Jai Hind! Keep fighting! Keep moving forward!” she said.

Jairam Ramesh Slams PM Modi

Reacting to Vinesh Phogat’s entry into the final of the Olympic Games, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked will he call her to congratulate her but more importantly to apologise for Delhi Police’s “misbehaviour”.

“Vinesh Phogat is assured of a silver or  a gold medal at Paris. Will the non-biological PM call her? To congratulate her of course but more importantly to apologise for the atrocious manner in which the Delhi Police misbehaved with her during the women wrestlers protest?,” Ramesh said in a post on X.

विनेश फोगाट का पेरिस ओलंपिक में सिल्वर या गोल्ड मेडल पक्का है। क्या नॉन-बायोलॉजिकल प्रधानमंत्री उन्हें कॉल करेंगे? निश्चित रूप से उन्हें बधाई देने के लिए, लेकिन इससे भी महत्वपूर्ण यह है कि उस शर्मानाक घटना के लिए माफ़ी मांगने के लिए जब महिला पहलवानों के विरोध प्रदर्शन के दौरान…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) August 6, 2024

In his post, Ramesh referred to Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and some other grapplers’ long sit-in protest in Delhi early last year against the alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers by former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.