‘She’s A Champion To Us’: Haryana To Felicitate Vinesh Phogat ‘Like Olympic Medalist’, Grant Her All Perks

Ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat who announced her retirement from wrestling following her disqualification from Paris Olympics 2024 will be welcomed and felicitated like an Olympic medal winner by her home state Haryana, and receive all the perks given to silver medalists by the state government, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced Thursday.

“Our brave daughter of Haryana, Vinesh Phogat, performed brilliantly and entered the finals of the Olympics. Due to some reasons, she may not have been able to play the final of the Olympics but she is a champion for all of us,” Saini wrote in a post on X.

The chief minister said Phogat will be felicitated like an Olympic medal winner and all respect, rewards and facilities that the state government gives to Olympic silver medalists “will be gratefully given to her”.

“Our government has decided that Vinesh Phogat will be welcomed and felicitated like a medalist. All the respect, rewards and facilities that the Haryana government gives to the Olympic silver medalist will be gratefully given to Vinesh Phogat as well. We are proud of you Vinesh!,” Saini wrote.

As per its sports policy, the Haryana government offers Rs 6 crore to gold medallists in the Olympic Games, Rs 4 crore to silver medallists and Rs 2.5 crore to bronze medal winners.

Vinesh Phogat had scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman grappler to reach the gold medal bout in the 50 kg event.

Vinesh Phogat retires

Vinesh Phogat on Thursday announced her retirement from wrestling following her heartbreaking disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024 which led to her missing out on a guaranteed silver medal or a possible gold in the finals of the women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling event.

“Mother Wrestling has won the final bout and I have lost. Forgive me, your dreams, and my courage, everything is broken. I don’t have the strength anymore,” Phogat wrote in a post on X in Hindi.

“Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024. I will always be indebted to you all for forgiveness,” the Olympian wrote.

Vinesh Phogat disqualified

On Wednesday, Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Paris Olympics 2024 for exceeding her weight by a mere 100 grams in the 50 kg category during the morning weigh-in ahead of competing for gold in the finals of the women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling event.

The 29-year-old grappler had advanced to the gold medal bout by defeating Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 in the semi-finals on Tuesday night and was set to compete against the United States’ Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the finals but was disqualified on Wednesday for breaching the weight limit.

(With inputs from agencies)