Vinesh Phogat, the celebrated Indian wrestler and three-time Olympian, was in a joyful mood as she celebrated Raksha Bandhan with her brother in their hometown Charkhi Dadri in the state of Haryana on Monday morning.
Vinesh Phogat’s Raksha Bandhan celebration
Donning her official Olympic gear, Vinesh shared a serene moment with her brother Harvinder after tying the ‘Rakhi’. She joked that her brother had finally given her all his savings, which was a significant improvement over previous years.
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’s witty commentary added a humorous touch to the traditional ceremony. “I am almost 30 years old now. Earlier he used to give me 10 rupees and last year he gave me 500 rupees. 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,” she said in a video shared by her brother.
Enthusiastic reception for Vinesh Phogat
Vinesh’s return to India from the 2024 Paris Olympics was marked by an outpouring of love and support. Although her Olympic journey ended heartbreakingly due to a disqualification from the women’s 50kg wrestling final, she was welcomed with open arms by the nation. Vinesh landed in India on Saturday and was met with a rapturous reception at New Delhi airport. Thousands of supporters greeted her as she made her way to her village Babali, where her family lives.
The journey from Delhi to Balali, normally a 135 km drive, turned into a 13-hour procession as supporters and ‘khap’ panchayats from various villages gathered along the route to pay their last respects. This overwhelming show of support came after Vinesh was disqualified for being overweight, a decision that sparked outrage both in India and across the wrestling community.
Despite her appeal, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the disqualification. However, Vinesh remained calm and steadfast and was given a hero’s welcome when she arrived at her home village late at night. Her neighbours and friends greeted her with a mixture of tears and smiles, praising her for the bravery she had shown during the ordeal.
Mahavir Phogat writes: “The CAS ruling breaks my heart, but Vinesh will remain a champion in our hearts”
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Exhausted but touched by the reception, Vinesh addressed the crowd and expressed hope that her village would continue to produce exceptional wrestlers. “It would be disappointing if no wrestler emerged from this village. We have paved the way and given hope with our successes. I request you all to support the women of this village. They need your support, hope and faith if they have to replace us in the future,” Vinesh said.
She added, “Whatever I have learnt 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.”
Before reaching Balali, Vinesh reiterated her commitment to her ongoing fight against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). “I want to thank all the people who supported us in our fight. Life itself is a fight. Our fight is not over and it will continue,” she stated.
Also read: Coach feared Vinesh Phogat could ‘die’ during intense weight loss before Olympic final
In a brief press conference, she later looked back on her Olympic experience and said: “This Olympic medal is a deep wound. I don’t know how long it will take to heal. I don’t know whether I will continue wrestling or not, but I want to channel the courage I have today in the right direction.”
Vinesh concluded by reiterating her determination to continue the struggle she has been waging for the past year, hoping that “with God’s grace, truth will prevail.”
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