Indian wrestling star Vinesh Phogat received a heartfelt welcome upon her return to New Delhi on Saturday after a tumultuous experience at the World Wrestling Championships in Paris. A large crowd of supporters, including fellow wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, gathered at the Indira Gandhi International Airport to show their solidarity and support for Phogat.
Phogat’s journey back to India was marked by a mix of emotions. She was found to be 100 grams overweight, which resulted in her disqualification from the 50 kg gold medal bout. This led to Phogat filing an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for a joint silver medal, but her appeal was ultimately rejected on Wednesday.
Despite the disappointment, Phogat was met with a wave of support upon her arrival in Delhi. Her mother, Premlata, expressed her pride in her daughter’s accomplishments, stating, “Everyone from our village and nearby areas has come here to welcome her. We will felicitate her… she is a champion for me. The country has given her more honour than a gold medal.”
Visibly moved by the outpouring of affection, Phogat broke down in tears. She expressed her gratitude to the entire country, saying, “I thank the entire country.”
It is worth noting that Phogat had announced her retirement from wrestling on August 8th, just a day after her disqualification from the competition. While her future in the sport remains uncertain, the warmth of the reception in Delhi suggests that she still enjoys immense support from her fans and fellow athletes.
