The star Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat is set to return to India on August 17, confirmed her teammate Bajrang Punia on Wednesday. Bajrang revealed that Vinesh will arrive at New Delhi's airport at 10 am on Saturday and will receive a grand welcome on her way to Balali.
Vinesh witnessed a heartbreaking Paris Olympics 2024 campaign after she was disqualified hours before her final bout for a gold medal match on August 7. She weighed 100 gms more than her 50kg category and was also denied a silver medal a big disappointment for the Indian contingent and supporters.
The 29-year-old wrestler approached the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) to appeal for a silver medal on August 8. The CAS held a hearing with Vinesh and the representatives from the United World Wrestling (UWW) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on August 9 and has delayed its verdict to August 16.
Very few tipped the three-time Commonwealth gold medalist to enter the finals in Paris after she was drawn against the top seed and the world no.1 Yui Susaki in the opening round. But the Indian wrestler stunned the world with a dominant 5-0 win to kick off her campaign in style. She overcame difficult challenges to enter the final and confirmed a medal for India.
But a big controversy hit the 33rd Summer Games after the organisers disqualified the Indian wrestler before her final bout against USA's Sarah Hildebrandt. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and its supporters raised a strong protest against the decision while Vinesh took a shocking step to retire from professional wrestling on August 8.
Meanwhile, the 21-year-old Aman Sehrawat continued India wrestling's medal streak by winning a bronze in the men's 57kg category. India managed to bag just one medal in wrestling while Neeraj Chopra produced the only silver in the 2024 Paris Games.
