Vinesh Phogat, the renowned Indian wrestler, received a heartfelt and emotional welcome upon her return to Jhajjar, Haryana, after a heartbreaking end to her Olympic campaign. The atmosphere was a mix of celebration and support, a testament to the deep admiration her community holds for her, despite the recent setbacks.
As Phogat arrived at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, visibly distraught and in tears, she was greeted with garlands, including a unique garland made of money, and selfies with young fans. A robust security presence accompanied her arrival, with family, friends, and fellow wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik offering their support.
Earlier in the month, Vinesh was disqualified from the 50kg freestyle final for being 100 grams overweight on the day of the gold-medal match. Despite appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport for a shared silver medal, her appeal was rejected.
Despite this disheartening experience, Phogat was met with an outpouring of love and respect from the nation. Upon her arrival, she expressed her gratitude, stating, “I thank the entire country; I am very fortunate to receive so much love.”
Following her disqualification, Vinesh announced her retirement from wrestling in a heartfelt social media post. In the post, she expressed deep sorrow and gratitude, writing, “Mom wrestling won against me, I lost… I don’t have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024.”
However, in a recent social media post, she reflected on her retirement, acknowledging that it came under “different circumstances.” She wrote, “Maybe under different circumstances, I could see myself playing till 2032, because the fight in me and wrestling in me will always be there. I can’t predict what the future holds for me, and what awaits me in this journey next, but I am sure that I will continue to fight always for what I believe in and for the right thing.”
Vinesh Phogat’s journey as a wrestler has been marked by both triumph and adversity. Her retirement may come as a loss to the world of wrestling, but her resilience and dedication to the sport will continue to inspire generations to come.
