Celebrated wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Saturday acquired a grand welcome on her return to India. Hundreds of supporters gathering exterior the IGI airport, displaying immense solidarity with Vinesh, who was disqualified for being chubby after reaching the 50kg last on the Olympics. After this, a much bigger crowd adopted her throughout a roadshow. On her strategy to Balali from Delhi, Vinesh was felicitated by her supporters and ‘khap’ panchayats in a number of villages, with the 135km-long journey taking her nearly 13 hours on Saturday.
In her native village Balali, Vinesh was even felicitated with a gold medal by group elders, as per a put up by Sportstar on X.
Watch it right here:
Balali promised, Balali delivered!
Vinesh Phogat was offered a gold medal by group elders in her native village. An enormous crowd is in attendance regardless of the felicitation starting nicely previous midnight.
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Overwhelmed by the grand reception she acquired on her arrival from the Paris Olympics, Vinesh mentioned it might be a matter of nice delight for her if she might prepare ladies wrestlers from her village Balali and so they grow to be extra profitable than her.
Her disqualification had created a furore in India and the wrestling world.
Vinesh’s attraction in opposition to her disqualification was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Vinesh, 29, reached her native village round midnight and was accorded a grand welcome. Her neighbours and mates met her with tears and smiles and patted her for the braveness she has proven.
Exhausted after a tiring journey that started in Paris, Vinesh addressed the gathering earlier than calling it a day. The two-time World Championships medallist wished that somebody from Balali would higher her wrestling achievements.
“It would be disappointing if no wrestler emerged from this village. We have paved the way, 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 mentioned.
“They can achieve a lot. All they need is your support. I will always be indebted to this nation, this village for giving me so much love and respect.
“Whatever I’ve learnt in wrestling, I do not know if that’s god-gifted or my laborious work however no matter I’ve I wish to share with my sisters from this village and I want they obtain higher 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 are broken by wrestlers from this village. Thank you all for staying up so late in the night for me.”
Vinesh is a two-time CWG gold medallist, Asian Games champion and has received eight Asian Championships medals.
(With PTI Inputs)
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