Vinesh Phogat was in a great mood on Monday morning as the wrestler celebrated Raksha Bandhan with her brother in her hometown of Charkhi Dadri in Haryana. The three-time Olympian took a moment to crack a joke in a light-hearted conversation with her brother after ‘Rakhi’ (German: Rakhi)Vinesh joked that her brother Harvinder had given away his entire savings, unlike in previous years.
Vinesh Phogat, dressed in official Olympic gear, tied a rakhi around her brother’s neck on Monday as the nation celebrated Raksha Bandhan – a festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters.
“I am almost 30 years old now. Earlier he used to give me Rs 10 and last year he gave me Rs 500. And now he has given me this. He has earned it all his life and now I have got it. Thank you brothers and sisters,” Vinesh said in a video carried by news agency PTI.
Vinesh Phogat received an enthusiastic reception upon her arrival in New Delhi on Saturday, August 17. Vinesh was received at the airport by her family, friends and fellow wrestlers Sakshee Malikkh and Bajrang Punia. On the way to her hometown, Vinesh was showered with love as thousands gathered to honour the wrestler who reached the final of the women’s 50 kg wrestling at the Paris Olympics before being disqualified.
Vinesh Phogat burst into tears as she saw the love and affection of the people who had gathered outside the airport to welcome her. Vinesh had to complete a parade of around 135 km from Delhi to her hometown on Saturday.
Vinesh’s caravan covered the 135 km stretch from Delhi to Balali in about 12 hours, receiving honours from Panchayats along the way. They stopped at various places including Dhankot, Badli, Jahajgarh, Loharwada, Ghasoula and Mandoula.
“So what if they didn’t give me the gold medal, but the people here gave it to me. The love and respect I received is greater than winning 1,000 Olympic gold medals.” Vinesh had said during the parade.
In her village, 750 kg of ladoos made from desi ghee were given a hero’s welcome on Saturday. Vinesh was touched by the love and support she received upon her arrival despite her shattered Olympic dream.
Vinesh was the first Indian woman to reach the wrestling final at the Olympics. However, the 29-year-old was disqualified for failing the weigh-in on the day of her final. At the weigh-in, Vinesh was found to be 100 grams overweight.
Vinesh appealed her disqualification at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and requested that she be awarded a silver medal. Her lawyers, including senior counsel Harish Salve, argued that Vinesh deserved a silver medal as she won three bouts on the opening day of the women’s 50kg competition before the weigh-in failed on the day of the final. However, Vinesh’s appeal was rejected.
Vinesh returned from the Olympics empty-handed for the third consecutive year. However, she proved her mettle on the mat. Vinesh’s victory over Japan’s Yui Susaki was one of the highlights of her campaign in Paris. The Indian wrestler ended Susaki’s winning streak at the highest level with an upset that caused a stir in the wrestling community.
Vinesh had announced her retirement after being disqualified at the Paris Olympics, but in recent days she has hinted several times that she might return to the mat and give it another go.
