Wrestler Vinesh Phogat who arrived in the national capital to a rousing reception at the Delhi Airport on Saturday thanked the people of the country for their support during Paris Olympics and said the fight is not over yet.

She was received by her fellow athletes Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik as well as Congress leader Deepender Hooda, and Panchayat leaders. The Indian wrestler was disqualified from the 50kg final in the Paris Olympics due to exceeding the weight limit by 100 grams.

During the roadshow after her arrival, the 29-year-old said she was grateful for the love and respect that she received from her country.

Addressing a gathering, Phogat said: “Although they didn’t give me the Gold medal, people here have given me that. The love and the respect that I have received is more than 1,000 Gold medals.”

The fellow wrestler Punia said that the love and respect she has received now is more than what she could’ve received after winning a Gold medal. He thanked the people of the entire nation for their support.

Premlata, mother of wrestler Vinesh Phogat said that everyone from her village and nearby areas have come here to welcome her. “We will felicitate her. She is a champion for me. The country has given her more honour than a gold medal”, she said.

Sharing pictures with the fighter on X, the Congress MP Hooda said: “Today, our sister Vinesh Phogat, the daughter of the country, who returned home like a brave warrior, was given a rousing welcome at the Delhi airport. In our eyes, you have been a winner in the past and will remain so in the future too. Your courage, struggle, and determination have not only won the hearts of crores of countrymen but you are an inspiration to crores of youth of the country.”

The Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also took to X and wrote in Hindi, “Everything is stacked ahead of it, this girl is a lion; Welcome Home Phogat.”

The Court of Arbitration For Sport (CAS) accepted Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s plea for a joint silver medal in the women’s 50kg wrestling at the Paris Olympics.

Hearing on her appeal started around 9:30 am Paris time, or 1 pm IST on August 9, though an interim verdict was expected, the CAS put out a statement that the order will come before the Olympics end on August 11.

The development has come as a big shot in the arm for both Vinesh Phogat and the Indian Olympic Association. The CAS, in its prima facie views on Thursday, found merit in Vinesh’s plea for a joint silver medal after she was disqualified from the final for being 100 grams overweight.

Vinesh was disqualified just hours before her gold-medal bout against Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of the USA. Although she had guaranteed at least a silver medal by making it to the final, she lost the podium finish following a failed weigh-in. Attempts to shed some kg came to naught as she was disqualified anyway. The ruling of the United World Wrestling – that a wrestler must be within the weight category on each day of competition – saw Vinesh lose the chance at winning a medal.

Though Vinesh’s opponent in the semi-finals, Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, made it to the final, the script ended there as she was beaten by America’s Sarah Ann Hildebrandt who became the fourth woman from her country to win a gold medal in wrestling.

Following her disqualification, Vinesh and the IOA filed two appeals with CAS. While the first one seeking permission for Vinesh to participate in the final was dismissed, the second appeal seeking a joint silver medal was allowed. Vinesh had won her first three bouts on August 6 but could not make her weight for the second-day weigh-in, which resulted in the disqualification.

The IOA has engaged Senior Advocate Harish Salve to argue its case before the CAS on behalf of Vinesh. The IOA argued that the 100 grams excess weight was insignificant and due to various factors such as bloating or recovery after intense competition and not for any gain.

This comes at a time when Vinesh has just declared her retirement from wrestling.

Hours after Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the Paris Olympics ahead of the gold medal wrestling pout, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday hoped that the Indian Olympic Association would strongly challenge this decision and provide justice to Phogat.

The former Congress president, in a post on X, said that it was unfortunate that Vinesh Phogat, India’s pride, who reached the finals after defeating world champion wrestlers, was disqualified on technical grounds. Gandhi added that Vinesh was not the one who would give up, adding that the Congress leader was confident that she would come back stronger in the arena.

The Congress leader said Phogat has always made the country proud. “Even today the whole country stands with you as your strength”, the Congress MP said.

Phogat, was disqualified from her gold medal match against Sarah Hildebrandt after weighing 150 grams over the 50 kg weight category. Phogat was set to make history as the first Indian wrestler to compete for a gold medal in her category.

Phogat’s journey through the event was remarkable, as she defeated all her opponents to reach the finals. She was scheduled to face Sarah Hildebrandt on August 7 for the ultimate showdown. However, it was discovered that she exceeded the weight limit by 150 grams, resulting in her disqualification.

Sanjay Singh, the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), stated that legal action would be taken against this situation. Vinesh’s nutritionist and coach can determine the real reason for this. He said WFI is looking for legal options to appeal for the disapproval of this disqualification. “Yes, we don’t have much time for it, but we are doing everything in our power to make this situation right,” Singh added.

Phogat, who had secured a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, is now ineligible for any medal and will be placed last. This decision came as a shock after her sensational victory over Yui Susaki, who is considered nearly unbeatable in the wrestling world.

The disqualification has been a devastating blow to Phogat, leaving her heartbroken and under medical supervision. Her supporters and fans are equally dismayed, with many expressing their disappointment online.