Minister's reply: "Appreciating strength in all forms."

A substantial portion of the internet took offense at Union Minister Jayant Singh Chaudhary after he praised wrestler Vinesh Phogat for her outstanding performance at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Phogat, 29, made history on Tuesday by defeating Yusneylys Guzman of Cuba 5-0 in the semi-final bout to become the first Indian to go to the Olympic women's wrestling final.

"She is the epitome of bravery in the face of difficulty! Olympian, champion, and Indian medallist at the Olympics. "Best wishes, Vinesh Phogat," Jayant Singh wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday evening.

In response to the minister's congratulations on Phogat, an X user named Prakash Jha said, "She is far more courageous and has more spine than you sir."

The X user made reference to the lengthy sit-in protest against the alleged sexual harassment of female wrestlers by former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh that Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and a few other grapplers staged in Delhi at the beginning of last year.

In response to the X user's comment, Jayant Singh—a junior minister in the Education Ministry and the Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Ministry—seemed to agree with him.

The wrestlers' protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is accused of sexual harassment, was led by Vinesh Phogat.

The Haryana wrestler, who was pulled by the hair at India Gate during the demonstration, turned into the establishment's enfant terrible.

Her performance on Tuesday at the Olympics was a response to those who had criticized her for playing a significant part in the protracted wrestlers' protest.

From the streets of Delhi to the podium in Paris, Phogat's incredible odyssey culminated in a historic medal, the color of which will be revealed on Wednesday. She's promised herself a silver for the time being.

There are currently 7 million subscribers to the Hindustan Times YouTube channel. We appreciate the support from our viewers. For exclusive video news on politics, sports, entertainment, and other topics, subscribe to the channel.