Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat got a very special gift from her brother in her native village of Balali on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan on Monday, August 19.
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat enjoyed a very special Raksha Bandhana 2024 on Monday (August 19) with her near and dear ones around her in her village in Balali. In a video which has gone viral on social, Vinesh Phogat shared what gift she had received from her brother on this special day.
Vinesh, who heartbreakingly was disqualified from Paris Olympics 2024 because she was 100gms overweight on second day of weigh-in after becoming the first Indian female wrestler to enter the final, got a rousing welcome on her return to India on Saturday. She took nearly 13 hours to traverse a distance of about 150kms by road – stopping at almost every village to receive felicitation and a hero’s welcome.
In a special post which has gone viral on social media where Vinesh can be seen holding a bundle of Rs 500 notes. “I am almost 30 years old. Last year he gave me Rs 500. After that this (points to a bundle of currency note). He has earned this much money only in his whole life (jokingly), which he has given to me,” Vinesh said.
Her brother also started smiling after her statement on video.
WATCH Vinesh Phogat’s special gift from her brother on Raksha Bandhan HERE…
Charkhi Dadri, Haryana: Wrestler Vinesh Phogat celebrates Raksha Bandhan with her brother in their village Balali pic.twitter.com/YgahqHmDPq
— IANS (@ians_india) August 19, 2024
On her way to Balali from Delhi, Vinesh was felicitated by her supporters and ‘khap’ panchayats in several villages, with the 135km-long journey taking her almost 13 hours on Saturday. This was after hundreds of supporters gathered outside the IGI airport to give a rousing welcome to Vinesh, who was disqualified for being overweight after reaching the 50kg category final at the Olympics.
Vinesh’s appeal against her disqualification was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last week. The 29-year-old reached her native village around midnight and was given a massive welcome. Her neighbours and friends met her with tears and smiles and patted her for the courage she has shown.
“It would be disappointing if no wrestler emerged from this village. We have paved the way, given hope with our achievements. I request you all to support the women in this village. They need your support, hope and trust if they have to replace us in future,” Vinesh said.
“They can achieve a lot. All they need is your support. I will always be indebted to this nation, this village for giving me so much love and respect. Whatever I have learnt in wrestling, I don’t know if that is god-gifted or my hard work but whatever I have I would like to share with my sisters from this village and I wish they achieve greater heights than me. I can then say with pride that she is from my village and I have trained her. I want that (my) records are broken by wrestlers from this village. Thank you all for staying up so late in the night for me,” Vinesh said.