Wrestler Vinesh Phogat honoured with gold medal by Haryana panchayat on birthday

Digital Desk: Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was honoured with a gold medal by the Sarvkhap Panchayat in Haryana on her birthday, Sunday, August 25. This special recognition comes after Vinesh made history at the Paris Olympics, becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to qualify for the Olympic finals. However, her journey took a heartbreaking turn when she was disqualified on the morning of her gold medal match against the USA’s Sarah Hildebrandt for being 100 grams over the 50 kg weight limit.

Vinesh's weight had increased by 2.8 kg after the first day of the competition. Despite working tirelessly through the night to shed the excess weight, she fell just short of the limit, leading to her disqualification. The 30-year-old wrestler returned to India to a rapturous welcome in her hometown, where she was celebrated for her efforts and resilience.

On her birthday, the Sarvkhap Panchayat honoured her with a gold medal, recognizing her determination and spirit. Reflecting on her Olympic disqualification, Vinesh shared that while the experience left her devastated, the overwhelming support she received upon her return made her feel incredibly fortunate.

"My fight has not ended, it has rather just begun. The fight for our daughters' honour has just started," Vinesh said. "When I could not play in Paris, I thought I was very unfortunate, but after returning to India and experiencing all the love and support here, I feel that I am very fortunate. I will forever be indebted for this honour which is above any medal."

Vinesh's attempt to overturn her disqualification by appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and United World Wrestling (UWW) was ultimately unsuccessful. The CAS dismissed her plea after a week-long hearing. Following this, Vinesh announced her international retirement, sharing an emotional message with her fans on social media.