“I Am Very Fortunate…”: Vinesh Phogat Returns to New Delhi, Receives Hero’s Welcome Back Home

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat arrived in New Delhi on Saturday, after her disqualification from the Paris 2024 Olympics. The 29-year-old athlete landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport to a warm welcome from thousands of supporters and well-wishers. Her family, including her mother, had been at the airport for hours in anticipation of her arrival. In the wake of her arrival, security measures were heightened at the airport. As part of the homecoming, Vinesh was heavily garlanded and driven in an open jeep; she was seen thanking her supporters with folded hands.

Upon her arrival, Vinesh was greeted by a crowd that included fellow wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik. In a moment captured on video, Vinesh was seen breaking down in tears as she reunited with her family and friends. "I thank all the countrymen; I am very fortunate," Vinesh expressed emotionally. The last ten days have been incredibly challenging for Vinesh. However, the reception she received upon her return highlighted the support and admiration she still commands. Despite not securing an Olympic medal, Vinesh was celebrated as a champion by those who gathered to welcome her.

Vinesh had been a strong contender for a medal in the Women's 50kg wrestling event at the Olympics but was disqualified on the day of her gold-medal match for being 100 grams overweight. Despite her request for a joint silver medal, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected her plea.

Prior to her return to India, Vinesh expressed her deep disappointment over missing out on the Olympic podium, linking her personal struggle to the broader fight for women's rights in India. She had previously been vocal about these issues during protests against the former wrestling federation chief.

In a three-page letter posted on social media, Vinesh hinted at a possible future return to wrestling, despite her earlier decision to retire. Her coach, Woller Akos, detailed the intense and dangerous weight-cutting process Vinesh underwent before the final weigh-in. Akos described the grueling efforts, including long hours of exercise and sauna sessions, which ultimately left Vinesh in a precarious state.

On August 7, the day of her gold medal bout, Vinesh was found 100 grams overweight and consequently disqualified. This decision nullified her remarkable achievements, including a historic win against four-time world champion Yui Susaki and advancing to the Olympic final. Despite efforts from her coaches, doctors, and the Indian Olympic Association, her appeal for a joint silver medal was dismissed by CAS after several delays.

In an emotional social media post, Vinesh reflected on her childhood dreams, the loss of her father, and the contributions of those who supported her. She expressed a sense of unfinished business and uncertainty about the future but vowed to continue fighting for what she believes in. Though she had announced her retirement immediately after the Olympics, Vinesh's recent comments offer a glimmer of hope for a potential return to wrestling. "Maybe under different circumstances, I could see myself playing till 2032," she wrote, hinting at a continued passion for the sport.​