‘You Will Always Be a Champion’: Fans React as Vinesh Phogat Returns from Paris – News18

After suffering a massive heartbreak in Paris, star wrestler Vinesh Phogat returned to India on Saturday morning. The 29-year-old was disqualified for being overweight after reaching the 50kg women’s freestyle wrestling final at the Olympic Games. Vinesh filed an appeal for a joint silver at the Court of Arbitration of Sports (CAS) following her disqualification. However, the wrestler decided to part ways with the sport forever, announcing her retirement.

On Saturday morning, Vinesh arrived at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. Vinesh had to stay back in Paris for the hearing of her appeal which was eventually dismissed on Wednesday. The Indian wrestler broke down in tears as she left the airport.

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London Olympics bronze medal-winning shooter Gagan Narang, who was the Chef de Mission of the Indian contingent in Paris, called her a champion, posting a photo with Phogat at the Paris airport. Both of them were on the same flight to Delhi.

“She came as a champion on day 1 into the games village and she will always remain our champion. Sometimes one doesn’t need an Olympic medal to inspire a billion dreams.. @vineshphogat you have inspired generations. Salute to your grit,” Narang posted on X.

2016 Olympic medalist also posted a photo in which she could be hugging a heartbroken Vinesh at the airport.

Here’s how others reacted on social media on Vinesh Phogat’s arrival:

The wrestler had expressed her deep sorrow over missing out on the Olympic podium, linking her personal disappointment to the broader struggle for women’s rights in India, which she had championed in her protests against the former wrestling federation chief.

In a three-page letter posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Friday night, Phogat hinted at a possible return to the sport in the future, leaving the door slightly ajar despite her earlier decision to retire.