India's ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat was met with an overwhelming show of support upon her return to New Delhi on Saturday, August 17. Thousands of fans gathered at the IGI Airport to express their solidarity with the athlete who had suffered a heartbreaking disqualification at the Paris Olympics. Fellow wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, along with local Panchayat leaders, were present to welcome her home. Vinesh had created history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic wrestling final on August 6. However, a devastating turn of events unfolded the following day when she was disqualified during the weigh-in due to being 100 grams overweight, denying her a chance to compete for a medal. The 29-year-old's subsequent retirement announcement sent shockwaves through the nation. Determined to challenge the decision, Vinesh appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for a joint silver medal. Unfortunately, the appeal was dismissed on Wednesday.
Emotional Homecoming for Vinesh Phogat
Upon her arrival at the airport, Vinesh Phogat was showered with garlands and overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from her fans, leading to an emotional breakdown. She was then escorted through the national capital in an open jeep, amid tight security, en route to her native village of Balali in Haryana. A dedicated group of 50 supporters accompanied Vinesh's jeep throughout the journey. Before proceeding to Balali, they made a stop at a temple in Delhi's Dwarka to offer prayers.
After arriving in her hometown, a visibly emotional Vinesh expressed her gratitude to her supporters, stating:
“Although they didn't give me the Gold medal, people here have given me that. The love and the respect that I have received is more than 1,000 Gold medals.”
In her first public statement since the disqualification, Vinesh Phogat said that she might continue wrestling until the 2032 Olympics under ‘different circumstances’. However, the emotional turmoil of the disqualification has cast doubt on her future in the sport, as she admitted to uncertainty about her next steps.
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