JULANA, India (Reuters) - Indian Olympic wrestling star Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Paris Games, but she's determined to keep fighting for her constituency and against sexual harassment of women as she contests state elections this Saturday.

Can Phogat’s popularity as a sportsperson and her brave protest against sexual harassment trump more convention political factors in Julana?

Vinesh Phogat, the Olympic wrestler and Congress candidate, is determined to bring change to Haryana as she campaigns for the upcoming assembly elections, focusing on women's rights and social equality.

After the wrestlers' protest in January 2023, wrestling akhadas across Haryana witnessed a spurt of dropouts as apprehensive parents pulled out their wards.

The entry of Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat made the upcoming contest in Julana one of the most closely-watched seats in the Assembly Elections. AAP took it up a notch by fielding former weightlifter-turned-wrestler Kavita Dalal.

She retired from wrestling after she was disqualified ahead of the Paris Olympics women’s 50 kg freestyle final. Read more at straitstimes.com.

She now spends her days campaigning in her native state of Haryana, receiving blessings from party elders and building on the momentum that she and other wrestlers created last year by protesting against a politician charged with sexually harassing women athletes.