Balali (Haryana). Wrestler Vinesh Phogat, overwhelmed by the grand welcome on her return home from the Paris Olympics, has said that her fight against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for the betterment of Indian wrestling will continue and hoped that truth will prevail. Vinesh, who was disqualified for being overweight after reaching the 50kg final at the Olympics, was given a rousing welcome on her arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday. Vinesh had appealed against her disqualification in the Sports Arbitration but its ad hoc division rejected it.
On the way from Delhi to her native village Balali, Vinesh was felicitated by her supporters and Khap Panchayats. It took her about 13 hours to cover the distance of 135 km. She reached her village at midnight. The villagers welcomed her with great enthusiasm. Vinesh was very tired due to the long journey from Paris to here but despite this she addressed her fans.
Vinesh said, “Our fight is not over. The fight will continue and I pray to God that the truth will prevail.” Vinesh and her fellow Olympians Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik have been protesting against the WFI and its former chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for over a year over the alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers. Six wrestlers, including Vinesh, sat on a dharna at Jantar Mantar last year demanding action against the former WFI president. Vinesh also said that the way she was welcomed warmly has inspired her to move forward.
The 29-year-old wrestler said, “The love I got from my countrymen, my village and family members will help me overcome this setback. I can return to wrestling.” She said, “Missing the Olympic medal is the biggest setback of my life. I don’t know how long it will take me to recover from this. I don’t know whether I will return to wrestling or not but I want to use the courage I have got today in the right direction.” Vinesh said that she does not know whether she deserves such an honor or not. She said, “I am lucky that I was born in this village. I will always fight for the honor of women and the village.”
The two-time World Championship medallist hoped that someone from her village would carry forward her legacy. “I truly wish that someone from my village takes my legacy forward and breaks my records. If I can promote women wrestlers from my village, that will be my biggest achievement,” she said.
Vinesh said, “It will be disappointing if no wrestler emerges from this village. I request all of you to support the women of the village. If they have to take our place, they will need your help and support.” Vinesh had announced her retirement from wrestling after being disqualified.
However, Vinesh did not mention her uncle Mahavir Phogat, which angered her cousins Geeta and Babita. They expressed their disappointment in a social media post. Geeta wrote on Instagram, “The fruits of karma are simple. The fruits of deceit are deceit, if not today then tomorrow.” Geeta’s husband Pawan Saroha, who is also a wrestler, reminded Vinesh about Mahavir. Saroha wrote, “Vinesh you have written very well but perhaps today you have forgotten your uncle Mahavir Phogat, who started your wrestling career. May God give you wisdom.” Babita wrote, “Every success is a defeat. Whose only purpose is to humiliate everyone.”
