Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya criticized Congress and Trinamool leaders for body-shaming Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma, labeling their remarks as “deeply shameful and outright pathetic.” He emphasized that athletes should be respected and allowed to manage their professional lives without negative commentary. This backlash followed Congress leader Shama Mohamed’s comment on Sharma’s weight during a Champions Trophy match, which drew widespread condemnation from the sports community and political figures, including the BJP. Although Congress sought to distance itself from Mohamed’s remarks, she justified her comments as a statement on fitness, supported by Trinamool leader Sougata Ray.
New Delhi:
Union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya has criticized two leaders from Congress and Trinamool for their disparaging remarks about Rohit Sharma, describing their “body shaming” of the Team India captain as not only deeply shameful but also outright pathetic.
In a post on X, the minister stated, “Congress and TMC should refrain from targeting sportspersons as they are fully equipped to manage their careers… Such comments belittle the dedication and sacrifices our athletes make to represent our nation on the international stage.”
Congress and TMC should refrain from targeting sportspersons as they are fully equipped to manage their careers.
Statements from leaders of these parties, engaging in body shaming and questioning an athlete’s position on the team, are not only deeply shameful but also outright…
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) March 3, 2025
Last week, during the India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy match, Congress’s Shama Mohamed remarked that Rohit Sharma “is overweight for a sportsman.”
“He needs to lose some weight! And of course, he’s the most unimpressive captain India has ever had,” she added.
Her comments prompted significant backlash from the sports community, politicians, and civil society in the country.
The BJP labeled her remarks as unpatriotic. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia described the comments as ‘unfortunate’, emphasizing that such statements during an ICC event can have a demoralizing effect on a cricketer.
In light of the controversy, the Congress party, feeling embarrassed, distanced itself and she removed her posts.
However, Shama Mohamed reaffirmed her stance today, claiming, “It was a general tweet about a sportsperson’s fitness” and not body-shaming.
“I have always believed that athletes should maintain fitness, and I thought he was somewhat overweight, so I simply tweeted about it. I have been unfairly attacked… I have the right to express my opinion. What is wrong with that? This is a democracy,” she told reporters today.
She also garnered unexpected support from the Trinamool Congress.
Trinamool’s Sougata Ray mentioned, “I’ve heard that Rohit Sharma’s performance has been rather disappointing. He scored one century, but apart from that, he gets out after scoring 2, 3, 4, or 5 runs. He shouldn’t be on the team. India wins due to the performance of other players, but the captain isn’t contributing.”
The veteran leader added, “What Shama Mohamed has said is correct.”