New Delhi, Balali: Vinesh Phogat, surrounded by hundreds of fans and security officers, steps out of the Indira Gandhi International airport in Delhi. She breaks down when she sees her mother, wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, and other family members waiting.
Vinesh Phogat was disqualied from the 50kg wrestling event in the Paris Olympics for being overweight ahead of what would have been a historic final.
On Saturday, the Indian wrestler arrived in the country from Paris where she had to stay back due to her appeal for a joint silver pending in front of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The plea, however, was dismissed on Wednesday.
Outside the airport, she hugs her family, supporters welcome her with a marigold garland and mediapersons surround her.
Then, Vinesh Phogat, along with Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda, start a road show from the airport.
On reaching Haryana’s villages, people welcome her with garlands and flowers, as the crowd shouts “Sherni hai Vinesh”.
Back home in Haryana’s Balali, villagers celebrate with a huge poster of Vinesh. It says, “World Champion, inspiration for so many Indians, we are proud of you”.
Lights and decorations of flowers adorn the temple in the village. Villagers are served food in a bhandara while they wait for Vinesh’s arrival.
Vinesh’s mother Premlata Phogat, travelling with Phogat to all the villages, tells ThePrint that she is proud of her daughter. “I have prepared all her favourite food — malai ka halwa, churma, lassi, dahi… she loves desi food.”
“She was sad when she said that she will be leaving wrestling. We will try our best to convince her — none of us want her to leave wrestling,” she says.
Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling after the Olympics disqualification.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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