Wrestler Vinesh Phogat, overwhelmed by the grand welcome she received on her return home from the Paris Olympics, has said that her fight against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for the betterment of Indian wrestling will continue and expressed hope that the truth will prevail. Vinesh, who was disqualified due to overweight after reaching the 50kg final at the Olympics, was given a warm welcome when she reached the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday. Vinesh had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against her disqualification but it was rejected by its ad-hoc division.
Vinesh was felicitated by her supporters and Khap Panchayats on the way from Delhi to her native village Balali. It took him about 13 hours to complete the distance of 135 kilometres. She reached her village at midnight. The villagers welcomed him with full enthusiasm. Vinesh was very tired due to the long journey from Paris to home but despite this she addressed her fans. Vinesh said, “Our fight is not over. The fight will continue and I pray to God that truth will prevail.
Vinesh and her fellow Olympians Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik have been protesting for over a year against the WFI and its former chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers. Six wrestlers, including Vinesh, had sat on a dharna at Jantar Mantar last year demanding action against the former WFI president. Vinesh also said that the warm welcome she received has inspired her to move ahead.
The 29-year-old wrestler said, “The love I have received from my countrymen, my village and my family members will help me overcome this setback. I can return back to wrestling.” She said, ”Missing the Olympic medal is the biggest shock of my life. I don’t know how long it will take me to recover from this. I don’t know whether I will return to wrestling or not but I want to use the courage I have got today in the right direction.
Vinesh said that she does not know whether she deserves such an honor or not. He said, “I am lucky to be born in this village. I will always fight for the honor of women and the village.” The two-time World Championship medalist expressed hope that a player from the village will carry forward her legacy. She said, “I wish from my heart that someone from the village should take my legacy forward and break my records. If I can promote the women wrestlers of my village, it will be my biggest achievement.
Vinesh said, “It will be disappointing if no wrestler emerges from this village. I request all of you to support the women of the village. If they have to take our place, they will need your help and support.” Vinesh had announced her retirement from wrestling after being disqualified. Vinesh, however, did not mention her uncle Mahavir Phogat, which angered her cousins Geeta and Babita. He expressed his disappointment in a social media post.
Geeta wrote on X, “The consequences of actions are simple. ‘If not today then tomorrow the result of deceit is deceit.” Geeta’s husband Pawan Saroha, also a wrestler, reminded Vinesh about Mahavir. Saroha wrote, “Vinesh, you have written very well but perhaps today you have forgotten your uncle Mahavir Phogat, who started your wrestling life. May God give you wisdom.” Babita wrote, ”Every success is a defeat. Whose purpose is only to humiliate everyone.
