‘Victory of Every Daughter of the Country’: Bajrang Punia Hails Vinesh Phogat on Return to

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat returned to the capital city of the nation, New Delhi, on Saturday following her heroics at the Paris Olympics 2024, where she made the final of the 50 Kg Freestyle event but was disqualified ahead of the bout due to exceeding the stipulated weight.

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Vinesh returned to India to an incredible outpouring of love and respect as the people of the nation gathered at the airport to show their admiration for the star wrestler, who was accompanied by Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik en route to her native village in Charkhi Dadri, Haryana from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.

Bajrang, who has been a pillar of support for the wrestling community and Vinesh through all the struggles, thanked the nation for coming out in large numbers and demonstrating their love for the grappler.

“I thank the entire country for giving so much love and blessings,” Punia said.

“It is a victory of every daughter (of the country),” he added.

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Her DQ, for being around 100 grams over the permissible weight, caused a stir in the nation as every Indian felt hard done by the decision. Phogat filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration of Sport to ratify her results on the first day of the event and grant her the silver medal, when she made the weight and earned her spot in the final with three straight wins.

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However, her appeal was dismissed by the CAS bringing the dream of an Olympic medal from women’s wrestling to a grinding halt.