Vinesh Phogat hugs uncle Mahavir Singh Phogat after return to her Haryana village. Video goes viral
Vinesh Phogat returned to India on Saturday after her Paris Olympics 2024 journey, greeted by an overwhelming crowd of supporters. Hundreds of fans gathered outside the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport in New Delhi to welcome her back, despite the disappointment of her disqualification from the Olympics for being overweight after reaching the 50kg final. Vinesh’s appeal against this disqualification was also rejected by the ad-hoc division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), adding to the emotional weight of her return.
Vinesh's arrival at her home village Balali was marked by a deeply emotional reunion with her uncle and mentor, Mahavir Singh Phogat. The embrace they shared resonated with many, capturing the emotional toll of her Olympic journey and the support she received from her family, particularly during her most challenging moments.
This reunion, which was widely shared on social media, moved many of her supporters and fans, highlighting the strong bond between Vinesh and Mahavir. Throughout Vinesh’s struggles during the Olympics, Mahavir had been a steadfast pillar of support, offering encouragement even as the weight of her disqualification weighed heavily on her.
The narrative took a slightly different turn on social media, where Vinesh’s decision to omit mentioning her uncle Mahavir Phogat in her retirement post drew criticism from her cousins, Geeta and Babita Phogat. Both sisters, who are also accomplished wrestlers, expressed their disappointment through veiled Twitter posts.
