Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Sanjay Singh announced on Saturday that wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia have joined the Congress party, confirming that the political party was behind the wrestlers' protest. Singh stated that the athletes' protest against previous WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was orchestrated by Congress leader Deepender Hooda and his family.

"They joined the Congress, so this proves that they were behind that protest. Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was associated with the BJP. I am not associated with any party or person but they still opposed me too... This whole protest was politically motivated," he said.