Vinesh Phogat jokes about brother's 'whole Life's Earning' gift on Raksha Bandhan

Vinesh Phogat, the celebrated Indian wrestler and three-time Olympian, was in a joyful mood as she celebrated Raksha Bandhan with her brother in her hometown of Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, on Monday morning.

Vinesh Phogat's Raksha Bandhan celebration

Dressed in her official Olympic kit, Vinesh shared a light-hearted moment with her brother, Harvinder, after tying the 'rakhi'. She joked that her brother had finally given his entire life savings as a gift, a notable upgrade from the previous years.

Charkhi Dadri, Haryana: Wrestler Vinesh Phogat celebrates Raksha Bandhan with her brother in their village Balali pic.twitter.com/YgahqHmDPq

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Vinesh's quip added a touch of humour to the traditional ceremony. "I am now almost 30 years old. He used to give me Rs 10 and he gave me Rs 500 last year. And now he has given me this. He has earned this throughout his life, and now it has come to me. Thank you, brothers and sisters," she said in a video shared by her brother.

Rousing welcome for Vinesh Phogat

Vinesh's return to India from the Paris Olympics 2024 has been marked by an outpouring of love and support. Although her Olympic journey ended in heartbreak due to disqualification from the women's 50kg wrestling final, the nation welcomed her back with open arms. Vinesh landed in India on Saturday and was met with a rousing reception at the New Delhi airport. Thousands of supporters greeted her as she made her way to her village, Babali, where her family resides.

The journey from Delhi to Balali, typically a 135km drive, turned into a 13-hour-long procession as supporters and 'khap' panchayats from various villages along the route gathered to honour her. This overwhelming show of support came after Vinesh's disqualification for being overweight, a decision that sparked outrage both in India and across the wrestling community.

Despite her appeal, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the disqualification. Nevertheless, Vinesh remained composed and resilient, receiving a hero's welcome upon her arrival in her native village late at night. Her neighbours and friends greeted her with a mix of tears and smiles, praising her for the courage she displayed during the ordeal.

Mahavir Phogat writes: ¡®I¡¯m heartbroken by CAS verdict, but Vinesh will remain a champion in our hearts¡¯
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Exhausted but touched by the reception, Vinesh addressed the crowd, expressing her hope that her village would continue to produce exceptional wrestlers. "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.

She further added, "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."

Before reaching Balali, Vinesh reiterated her commitment to her ongoing fight against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). "I want to thank all the people who supported us in our struggle. Life itself is a struggle. Our fight has not ended and it will continue," she declared.

Also Read: Coach feared Vinesh Phogat ¡®might die¡¯ during intense weight cut before Olympic final

In a brief press interaction later, she reflected on her Olympic experience, saying, "This Olympic medal is a deep wound. I don't know how much time it would take to heal. I don't know if I would pursue wrestling or not but the kind of courage I got today, I want to use that in the right direction."

Vinesh concluded by affirming her resolve to continue the battle she has been fighting for a year, with the hope that "by God's grace, the truth will prevail."

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