'Thank you to all Indians, I feel very fortunate,' Vinesh Phogat receives grand welcome

NEW DELHI: Wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was recently disqualified from the Paris Olympics, has returned to India. A large group of supporters from Haryana gathered at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport to welcome her home.

Olympic medalists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia were among those who came to receive Vinesh. The airport was heavily secured for her arrival. Overcome with emotion, Vinesh was seen in tears as she greeted the crowd. "Thank you to all Indians. I feel very fortunate," she said. Vinesh's mother expressed her gratitude, stating, "What the country has given us is a greater honour than a gold medal."

Vinesh was disqualified from the final of the Women's 50 kg wrestling event at the Paris Olympics due to a 100-gram weight gain, which cost her a guaranteed medal. Even if she had lost to American wrestler Sarah Ann in the final, she would have secured a silver medal. However, due to the disqualification, she had to return empty-handed.

Vinesh made history by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the Olympic wrestling finals but her hopes for a historic medal were dashed. The incident was appealed to the International Sports Court, which led to her extended stay in Paris but the appeal was dismissed on Wednesday, after which Vinesh announced her retirement from the sport.