Wrestler Vinesh Phogat thanked the entire country for their support during the Paris Olympics 2024 upon arrival in India on Saturday, August 17. Notably, Phogat arrived in Delhi and appeared very emotional when her wrestling teammates Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia greeted her enthusiastically.
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Vinesh says fight is far from over
The 29-year-old burst into tears as she saw the crowd gathered to celebrate her Olympic heroics and expressed gratitude to the nation for their unwavering support. She also stated that her fight is far from finished and that she will continue in her efforts.
“I would like to thank the entire country, I’m really lucky. Thanks for supporting me in my fight. It’s not over yet the fight will continue,” said Phogat.
Notably, Phogat made history when she defeated Yusneylys Guzmán of Cuba to go to the women’s freestyle 50 kg wrestling final at the Paris Games.
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Vinesh’s request for medal was dismissed by CAS
Vinesh became the first Indian woman to qualify for the Olympic wrestling finals. However, Phogat’s dream trip came to a tragic end when she was disqualified on the morning of her final match against Sarah Hildebrandt for weighing 100g more than the event’s 50 kg limit.
Following the sad event, she filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the decisions of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and United World Wrestling (UWW). Her efforts, however, were futile, as the CAS dismissed her case following a week-long hearing.
Vinesh penned emotional note yesterday
Vinesh Phogat posted an emotional message on her social media account, reflecting on her wrestling career since childhood and the unwavering love she had from her parents and relatives, despite multiple disappointments and heartbreaks. Vinesh also thanked her support staff, including Dinshaw Padiwalla, the Chief Medical Officer selected by the IOA for the Indian presence at the Paris Olympics 2024.
