Vinesh Phogat has been showered with love from all quarters since her return to India from the 2024 Paris Olympics. After an Olympic heartbreak when she was disqualified from the women’s 50kg wrestling final, Vinesh returned to India on Saturday. She was greeted with enthusiasm at New Delhi airport, with thousands congratulating her on her way to Babali, where Vinesh’s family lives. On Monday, Vinesh Phogat celebrated Raksha Bandhan.
One particular post has gone viral on social media in which Vinesh can be seen holding a bundle of 500 rupee notes.
“I am almost 30 years old. Last year he gave me 500 rupees. And then this (points to a wad of currency notes). This is the only money he has earned in his entire life (jokingly), and he gave this to me,” said Vinesh. His brother also started smiling after her statement.
Charkhi Dadri, Haryana: Wrestler Vinesh Phogat celebrates Raksha Bandhan with her brother in their village Balali pic.twitter.com/YgahqHmDPq
— IANS (@ians_india) 19 August 2024
Vinesh was felicitated by her devotees and ‘khap’ panchayats in several villages on her way to Balali from Delhi. The 135-km journey took her nearly 13 hours on Saturday.
This came after hundreds of fans gathered outside IGI airport to give a rapturous welcome to Vinesh, who was disqualified for being overweight after reaching the 50kg final at the Olympics.
Her disqualification caused an uproar in India and the wrestling world.
Vinesh’s appeal against her disqualification was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Vinesh, 29, reached her native village around midnight and received a warm welcome. Her neighbours and friends welcomed her with tears and smiles and patted her for the bravery she had shown.
Exhausted after a tiring journey that began in Paris, Vinesh addressed the gathering before ending the day. The two-time World Championship medallist wished that someone from Balali would surpass her achievements in wrestling.
“It would be disappointing if no wrestler emerges from this village. We have paved the way and given hope with our successes. I request all of you to support the women of this village. They need your support, hope and faith when they have to replace us in the future,” said Vinesh.
“They can achieve a lot. All they need is your support. I will always be grateful to this nation, this village, for the love and respect they have shown me.”
“Whatever I have learned in wrestling, I don’t know if it is God’s gift or my hard work, but whatever I have, I want to share it with my sisters from this village and I wish them to reach greater heights than me.”
“I can now proudly say that she is from my village and I have trained her. I want (my) records to be broken by wrestlers from this village. Thank you all for staying up so late for me.” Vinesh is a two-time CWG gold medalist, Asian Games champion and has won eight medals at the Asian Championships.
Before arriving in Balali, Vinesh had said that their fight against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) would continue.
“I want to thank all the people who supported us in our struggle. Life itself is a struggle. Our struggle is not over and it will continue,” said Vinesh.
She later reiterated her determination in a press speech in Balali.
“This Olympic medal is a deep wound. I don’t know how long it will take to heal. I don’t know if I will continue wrestling or not, but I want to channel the courage I have today in the right direction,” she added.
“We have been fighting a battle for a year. It will continue and with God’s grace the truth will prevail,” she said in a very brief conversation.
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