One Twitter user said it before the match began:
Warning: @VijayGoelBJP in stadium. 😭😂
— Surgical Maithun (@Being_Humor) October 22, 2016
And India’s sports minister stayed true to form. Vijay Goel had a not so stellar record when he went to the Rio Olympics and he ensured it stayed that way at the Kabaddi World Cup where India came from behind to retain the trophy.
What angered many was the fact that Goel stayed on to pose for photos with the team well after presenting the trophy:
@VijayGoelBJP That’s how you steal someone else’s thunder. Sad how someone had 2 tell you 2 step away at the end. You couldn’t do it urself pic.twitter.com/Z5GU4PYOMa
— Nipun Taneja (@taneja_nipun) October 22, 2016
Shameless politicians.
Hankering for cheap publicity, trying to steal attention from players.Get out of the way. No one wants to see you. pic.twitter.com/A5E9VHo92M
— The Indian Interest (@IndianInterest) October 22, 2016
@IndianInterest the height was one lady had to request him n Janardhan Gehlot to step aside n let the team celebrate.. Pathetic
— Yogesh Kokatay (@yogesh0607) October 22, 2016
And then obviously everyone piled on. Some wanted him removed as sports minister:
@narendramodi please take a call on Vijay goel. From Olympics to kabaddi he is a serial offender https://t.co/tDCdZNfVzJ
— Monica Sharma (@mons_sh) October 22, 2016
Dear @narendramodi there is a good reason to sack Vijay Goel now. The man is such a disgrace, please see the picture below! https://t.co/r8e9iHJLaC
— what are you then?? (@Rabid_Troll) October 22, 2016
And one guy went so far as to blame him for the BJP’s loss in Delhi:
@VijayGoelBJP is the worst minister in the cabinet. A living example of why AAP swept Delhi. https://t.co/TPReUuurye
— Arthshastri (@Arthshastri) October 22, 2016
Others were there just to have some fun
@IndianInterest “Mera naam Vijay (Goel) hai, main India ko jitaane k liye kahin bhi ghus sakta hoon”
— Amit (@AMITSIDSHARMA) October 23, 2016
Goel tried to justify himself to one person but got smacked down:
@taneja_nipun I went to cheer for the team and was also invited to present the trophy, you are free to interpret as per your wish.
— Vijay Goel (@VijayGoelBJP) October 22, 2016
@VijayGoelBJP You were asked 2 just ‘present’ the trophy. Just look at international events and you’ll know how to ‘present’.
— Nipun Taneja (@taneja_nipun) October 23, 2016
Maybe the Indian kabaddi team should have done a Ricky Ponting?
