Charkhi Dadri: The people of Balali village in Haryana’s Charkhi Dadri were gearing up for a night of celebration Wednesday when the news broke of wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the Paris Olympics. The room where her uncle, former wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat, and others had watched the semifinals the previous night was filled with silence.
Now, her decision to retire from the sport has added to the villagers’ heartache.
“She should not have announced retirement. We wanted her to play. It has broken our hearts. We will try to convince her to change her decision,” said Suraj Prakash Sangwan, a resident of Balali village. “She is an extremely courageous woman. She had worked hard to reach here. Now, when she was so close to success, she got disqualified.”
The entire village is mourning not just the lost opportunity of a gold medal, but also the fact that Vinesh’s hard work didn’t pay off, Suraj said.
Vinesh, who normally weighs 58 kg, had cut her weight down to compete in the 50 kg freestyle wrestling at the Paris Olympics. After her semifinal win Tuesday night, she was found to be 2 kg overweight. Vinesh didn’t sleep. She kept skipping, jumping and exercising to keep her weight in check.
But, she still weighed a 100 grams above the limit ahead of the final bout Wednesday morning. Later in the day, she appealed against the disqualification at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and sought a joint silver medal.
Her uncle Mahavir has been “waiting for an Olympic medal for 24 years”. His own dream as a player was to win gold in the Olympics for India. He later trained his daughters, too, for the same.
“Whenever she comes back, we will convince her to train for the next Olympics. We won’t settle for anything less than gold,” he said, holding back his tears. “She was so close, and we were sure that she would win. She had even defeated the Japanese world champion. It was her time.”
‘Coaches, staff are responsible’
At the Mahavir Phogat Sports Academy in Balali, the villagers, who usually gather to watch wrestling matches or to discuss political affairs, sat and discussed conspiracy theories behind Vinesh’s disqualification.
While everyone blamed the coaches, doctors and staff members of the Indian contingent for Vinesh’s weight issue, they also deliberated on the multiple ways the situation could have been averted.
“Why couldn’t the coach show an injury for Vinesh? She could have at least gotten her silver medal, which she deserved. Now, she will return empty-handed,” said one villager in the room, as the others nodded in agreement.
Another villager, Sher Singh, said that coaches and doctors take lakhs of rupees to work on the wrestlers. “An inquiry should be held into what was given to Vinesh that increased her weight,” Singh said.
Vinesh’s house in Balali was enveloped in an air of gloom. Her mother fainted when she heard the news of her disqualification. She left for Sonipat to be with her relatives soon after.
“There is no one at her house. Brother is with her in Paris. Mother is in Sonipat. It’s only her sister-in-law and she doesn’t want to talk to anyone,” said a woman, who had come to visit her.
‘I guess she is overwhelmed’
Rahul Sangwan, a 35-year-old resident of Balali, wondered where she found the strength to put up with all the hardships.
“Vinesh crossed all human limits to ensure that she wins the game. And yet, all she got was dejection,” says Sangwan.
Rahul recalled how bravely Vinesh protested against the alleged harassment faced by wrestlers, when they took to the streets last year, accusing the former chief of Wrestling Federation of India and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politician, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, of sexually abusing several young women players.
“When I heard she had retired, it felt like the BJP had won for a moment. But then I reminded myself of how many battles Vinesh has fought — from the streets to depression to wrestling. I am extremely sad,” Rahul said. “It is the state that has created so much trouble for her. How much can she fight and for how long? I guess she is overwhelmed, that’s why she announced her retirement. Maybe, she’ll retract.”
“Gold is not important for us. Vinesh is our gold. She is bigger than the gold medal. She is our inspiration. She is our legend,” he said.
By the end of the day, Mahavir, who had put up a brave front speaking to media persons since morning, sat watching several politicians comment about Vinesh’s disqualification.
Visibly crestfallen and with his voice shaking, he could only say this: “Mhari chhoriyaan chhoron se kam thodi na hai (our girls are no less than boys). She will bring the next gold medal.”
“Hum Haryana se hain, itni jaldi haar nahi maante (we are from Haryana, we don’t give up easily),” said another villager as he left the room.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)