WATCH: Did Vinesh Phogat Fall Sick After Her Return To India During Felicitation In Haryana Village
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat got a massive welcome on her return to India on Saturday morning from Paris. Although she failed to win a medal for the country, Vinesh got the biggest reception for a sportsperson – even bigger than some of the medallists at the recently concluded Paris Olympics 2024.
It took more than 12 hours for Vinesh’s cavalcade to move from Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi to her native village in Balali in Haryana – a journey that should take more than 3 hours by road. In fact, Vinesh reached her village almost past midnight as she had to stop at almost every Haryana village on the way as she was being accorded a hero’s welcome.
A video went viral on social media of Vinesh feeling sick during the felicitation at her native village, late on Saturday night. Vinesh was pushed to the limit trying the manage her weight during the wrestling 50kg category competition in Paris Olympics 2024 earlier this month.
The Indian grappler had to stay up all night, without food or water and train all through the night but was 100gms over her permitted body weight of 50kg which disqualified her from the competition after she had become the first Indian women grappler to reach the Olympics wrestling final.
WATCH Vinesh Phogat falling sick during her felicitation HERE…
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
Meanwhile, overwhelmed by the grand reception she received on her arrival from the Paris Olympics 2024, Vinesh said it would be a matter of great pride for her if she could train women wrestlers from her village Balali and they become more successful than her. On her way to Balali from Delhi, Vinesh was felicitated by her supporters and ‘khap’ panchayats in several villages, with the 135km-long journey taking her almost 13 hours on Saturday (August 17).
Vinesh’s appeal against her disqualification was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Vinesh, 29, reached her native village around midnight and was accorded a grand welcome. Her neighbours and friends met her with tears and smiles and patted her for the courage she has shown.
Exhausted after a tiring journey that began in Paris, Vinesh addressed the gathering before calling it a day. The two-time World Championships medallist wished that someone from Balali would better her wrestling achievements.
“It would be disappointing if no wrestler emerged from this village. We have paved the way, 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 have to replace us in future,” Vinesh said.
“They can achieve a lot. All they need is your support. I will always be indebted to this nation, this village for giving me so much love and respect. Whatever I have learnt in wrestling, I don’t know if that is god-gifted or my hard work but whatever I have I would like to share with my sisters from this village and I wish they achieve greater heights than me.
“I can then say with pride that she is from my village and I have trained her. I want that (my) records are broken by wrestlers from this village. Thank you all for staying up so late in the night for me,” she added.
Vinesh is a two-time CWG gold medallist, Asian Games champion and has won eight Asian Championships medals.