Journey of Indian wrestler, Vinesh Phogat in the Paris Olympics 2024 came to a heartbreaking end as she was disqualified from the women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling final due to being 100 grams overweight. The 29-year-old wrestler made an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to be considered for a joint-silver medal, but her plea was also rejected, leaving her to return home without any medal.
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PARIS TO BALALI
It’s a hectic day for Vinesh Phogat. She’s traveling more than 20 hrs. #VineshPhogat #ParisOlympics2024 #wrestling #Paris2024 #ParisOlympics #Olympics pic.twitter.com/ZC5vEl8jYh
— nnis Sports (@nnis_sports) August 17, 2024
Despite the disappointment, Vinesh Phogat received a warm and enthusiastic welcome from her family and fans upon her return to her hometown in Haryana. When she arrived at her village, Balali, she was honored with a gold medal by her supporters and members of the local ‘khap’ panchayats. However, during the felicitation ceremony, a surprising incident occurred as the celebrated wrestler reportedly fell ill and fainted.
The incident followed a long and exhausting journey from Paris, during which Vinesh also participated in a roadshow and the subsequent ceremony. The combination of travel fatigue and a hectic schedule likely contributed to her sudden collapse. Earlier, Vinesh expressed her deep gratitude for the overwhelming reception she received and shared her hopes for the future of women’s wrestling in her village.
Vinesh Phogat, a two-time World Championships medalist, conveyed her dream of training women wrestlers from her village, Balali, with the aspiration that they could surpass her achievements. She emphasized the importance of supporting these young athletes, stating, “It would be disappointing if no wrestler emerged from this village. We have paved the way and 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 are to replace us in the future.”
Vinesh Phogat concluded by expressing her eternal gratitude to her village and her country for the love and respect they have shown her, reaffirming her commitment to nurturing the next generation of wrestlers.