Balali, Haryana: Wrestling sensation Vinesh Phogat returned to India with a heavy heart after her disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024, where she was greeted with an overwhelming display of support. The two-time World Championship medallist, who was disqualified due to exceeding the weight limit after reaching the 50 kg final, was visibly emotional as she addressed her supporters in her hometown of Balali.
Vinesh’s journey from Paris to her village was marked by admiration and respect. She arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday, where she was met with a warm and enthusiastic reception. Despite her recent setback, the wrestler expressed her gratitude for the support and reflected on her future goals.
“I am deeply moved by the love and support I’ve received,” Vinesh shared. “My dream now is to train the women wrestlers from my village and help them achieve greater success than I ever did. If one of them can break my records, that would be my greatest achievement.”
Her 135-kilometer journey from Delhi to Balali took an exhausting 13 hours, during which she was honored by her supporters and local Khap Panchayats. Despite her fatigue from the long journey, Vinesh took the time to address the crowd that had gathered to welcome her. She expressed her hope that her village would continue her legacy, producing future champions who could carry forward the torch of Indian wrestling.
“If no wrestler emerges from this village, it will be a disappointment,” she declared. “I urge all of you to support the women here. They will need your help to reach the heights we dream of.”
Vinesh’s words carried a deep sense of responsibility as she spoke about her desire to pass on her knowledge to the next generation of wrestlers. “Whether it’s a gift from God or the result of my hard work, everything I’ve learned in wrestling, I want to share with my sisters from this village. I want them to achieve more than I ever could.”
Vinesh also hinted at her possible retirement, a decision she had announced following her disqualification. A decorated athlete, she has won two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, an Asian Games championship, and eight medals at the Asian Championships. Despite her Olympic setback, Vinesh made it clear that her fight for the betterment of Indian wrestling is far from over.
“Our fight is not over,” she asserted, referencing her ongoing struggle against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and its former chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment. “I pray that the truth will prevail.”
The wrestler, who has been a prominent figure in protests alongside fellow Olympians Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, shared that the grand welcome she received has reignited her determination. “The love I’ve received from my countrymen, my village, and my family will help me overcome this setback. I may return to wrestling.”
However, she acknowledged the profound impact of missing out on an Olympic medal. “This is the biggest setback of my life. I don’t know how long it will take me to recover, or if I will return to wrestling, but I want to channel the courage I’ve gained today in the right direction.”
In a surprising omission, Vinesh did not mention her uncle Mahavir Phogat in her public statements, a detail that has sparked disappointment among her cousins, Geeta and Babita Phogat. They expressed their discontent on social media, adding a layer of family tension to Vinesh’s already tumultuous return.
Despite the challenges ahead, Vinesh Phogat remains committed to her village and to the cause of women’s wrestling in India. “I am lucky to have been born in this village,” she said with pride. “I will always fight for the honor of our women and our village.”
