NEW DELHI: Vinesh Phogat on Monday celebrated the festival of Raksha Bandhan with her brother and offered a glimpse into a moment of joy following a tumultuous period marked by Olympic disqualification and subsequent retirement announcement.
Vinesh was disqualified from the women's 50kg freestyle wrestling final at the Paris Olympics due to exceeding the weight limit by a reported 100 grams.
The disqualification nullified her potential medal win and led to a subsequent appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for a joint silver medal, which was ultimately denied.
Returning to India on Saturday after awaiting the CAS verdict in Paris, Vinesh was met with an emotional reception at the Delhi airport.
Fans and family members welcomed her with warmth and support, visibly moving the athlete. A special felicitation ceremony followed, with notable attendees like legendary wrestler Mahavir Phogat honouring her achievements despite the recent setback.
On Monday, Vinesh joined nationwide celebrations for Raksha Bandhan, a festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters.
A video circulating on social media showed Vinesh engaging in light-hearted banter with her brother, playfully commenting on his monetary gift and comparing it to previous years.
Watch:
While Vinesh announced her retirement from wrestling following the Olympic disqualification, a recent social media post hinted at a possible reconsideration of this decision.
She expressed her enduring passion for wrestling, saying, "Maybe under different circumstances, I could see myself playing till 2032 because the fight in me and wrestling in me will always be there. I can't predict what the future holds for me, and what awaits me in this journey next, but I am sure that I will continue to fight always for what I believe in and for the right thing."
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