Star Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat returned to India from Paris on 17 August (Saturday). Vinesh got a warm welcome at Delhi airport. Star wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik also reached Indira Gandhi Airport to receive Vinesh. Vinesh has now gone to her native village Balali from Delhi. While going to Balali, Vinesh was given a grand welcome at every place.
‘Our own people rewarded us with gold’
People also gave a warm welcome to Vinesh Phogat in Badli, Haryana. During this, Vinesh Phogat while addressing the people said, ‘All the people are welcoming. What if they did not give us the gold medal? Our own people have rewarded us more than gold. These honors pale in comparison to thousands of gold medals.
VIDEO | “Although they didn’t give me the Gold medal, people here have given me that. The love and the respect that I have received is more than 1,000 Gold medals,” says wrestler Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) in Haryana’s Badli. #ParisOlympics2024
(Full video available on PTI… pic.twitter.com/mBfznGwb9Q
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 17, 2024
To welcome Vinesh Phogat, 8:30 quintals of laddus have been made in her village and pakodas are also being fried. The villagers say that they are definitely disappointed at not getting the medal, but the name that their village’s daughter has brought to the country is not worth any gold and she should further prepare for the Olympics.
Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from Paris Olympics 2024. Vinesh had created history by reaching the finals of women’s 50 kg freestyle wrestling. However, due to being 100 grams overweight, he was disqualified on the day of the final match. If seen, it was the first time that an Indian wrestler had reached the finals. Vinesh appealed against this decision in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and demanded that she be given the combined silver medal. However, CAS rejected the appeal of star wrestler Vinesh Phogat.
Vinesh hints at coming back from retirement
Vinesh had announced her retirement from wrestling after being disqualified. However, he has now indicated his return from retirement. Vinesh wrote in an Instagram post, ‘Maybe under different circumstances, I can see myself playing till 2032, because the struggle and wrestling will always be there in me. I can’t predict what the future holds for me but I am looking forward to this journey. I am sure that I will always fight for what I believe in and what is right.
India won a total of six medals including one silver and five bronze medals in the Paris Olympics. India got its first medal in shooting, when Manu Bhaker won bronze in Women’s 10 meter Air Pistol. Then Manu Bhakar also got the second bronze in the mixed team event. Sarabjot Singh was also in the team with him. Swapnil Kusale won the third bronze medal in men’s 50 meter rifle three position shooting. Then the men’s hockey team won the bronze medal and javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won the silver medal. After this, wrestler Aman Sehrawat won bronze in men’s 57 kg freestyle.
These 6 athletes won medals in Paris
🥈Neeraj Chopra
🥉Manu Bhakar
🥉Manu Bhakar/Sarabjot Singh
🥉Swapnil Kusale
🥉Aman Sehrawat
🥉hockey