Vinesh Phogat returns after Paris heart-break
Overwhelmd by the reception she received upon her arrival in New Delhi, Vinesh Phogat wished that someone from Balali would better her wrestling achievements.
Star Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat received a rousing reception on Saturday as she returned from Paris following a massive heartbreak in the recently-concluded Olympic Games. Hundreds of supporters gathered outside the IGI airport to welcome her.
On her way to Balali from Delhi, Vinesh was felicitated by her supporters and ‘khap’ panchayats in several villages, with the 135km-long journey taking her almost 13 hours on Saturday. As she reached her native village around midnight, her neighbours and friends met her with tears and smiles and patted her for the courage she had shown.
Exhausted after a tiring journey that began in Paris, Vinesh addressed the gathering before calling it a day. The two-time World Championships medallist wished that someone from Balali would better her wrestling achievements.
“It would be disappointing if no wrestler emerged from this village. We have paved the way, and given hope with our achievements. I request you all to support the women in this village. They need your support, hope and trust if they have to replace us in future,” Vinesh said.
“They can achieve a lot. All they need is your support. I will always be indebted to this nation, and this village for giving me so much love and respect. Whatever I have learnt in wrestling, I don’t know if that is god-gifted or my hard work but whatever I have I would like to share with my sisters from this village and I wish they achieve greater heights than me.
“I can then say with pride that she is from my village and I have trained her. I want that (my) records to be broken by wrestlers from this village. Thank you all for staying up so late in the night for me,” she added.
Vinesh was disqualified for being overweight after reaching the 50kg women’s freestyle final. Her disqualification had created a furore in India and the wrestling world. She appealed for a joint silver at he the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) before announcing her retirement from the sport. Eventually, Vinesh’s appeal against her disqualification was rejected by the CAS.
(With PTI Inputs)
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