Not government job or land plot, Vinesh Phogat opts for Rs 4 crore award from Haryana admin

A member of Phogat’s family told The Indian Express on Thursday that a letter was submitted to the state sports department on Tuesday to inform about her decision.

Under its sports policy, the Haryana government offers a deputy director-level post within its sports department to outstanding sportspersons, including Olympians. However, the member of Phogat’s family who spoke to The Indian Express said that being a sitting legislator, she will not be able to opt for a government job. The family member also said that the cash gives her the freedom to purchase a plot as per her family’s requirement.

After the state cabinet meeting on March 25, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini had said, “Since Vinesh Phogat is now an MLA, the government has decided to ask her which benefits she would like to avail.” Saini added that these three benefits are offered to sportspersons equivalent to silver medal winners under the state government’s sports policy.

Phogat was disqualified from the Paris Olympics through a procedural decision. Given the circumstances at the time, Saini had then said in a post on X that he would not allow her honour to be diminished.