Long battle ahead, says Vinesh Phogat at native Balali village

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, August 18

Grappler Vinesh Phogat reached her native village Balali in Charkhi Dadri past midnight yesterday. Though looking exhausted due a long day of processions, Vinesh was soon in her elements as she received a rousing welcome from the villagers, who eagerly waited for 14 hours to welcome her.

She covered about 125 km from the IGI airport in Delhi to Balali village in about 13 hours. She was honoured at about 100 places en route to the village.

Vinesh admitted she was deeply hurt after missing the Olympic medal. “But the love and affection shown by my countrymen and my village will give me strength to heal and continue my struggle,” she said. She apparently gave signals to reconsider her retirement plans when she said that, “I cannot say whether I have left the game or will be able to carry on. But I want to move forward in the right direction after I get courage from people,” she said.

Stressing there was a long struggle ahead and her struggle was far from over, the Olympian said: “I have just crossed a small hurdle. But you know we have been in the middle of a prolonged battle for the past one and a half years. The battle will continue and I pray that the truth will prevail.”

Notably, Vinesh along with Olympic medallist wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia were at the forefront of the wrestlers’ agitation against the alleged sexual harassment of some women wrestlers by the former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The matter is sub-judice now.

She was accompanied by her family members, including mother Prem Lata, uncle and coach Mahavir Phogat, fellow wrestler Bajrang punia and others. Feeling overwhelmed and trying to control her emotions, Vinesh said, “I will preserve your honour and faith you have reposed in me till my last breath”.

She said, “I don’t know whether I am capable of this love and honour or not. But I will always be indebted to you for this honour and affection you have showered on me. I promise you that I will always preserve this honour”.

Vinesh made an emotional appeal to the villagers to provide all the opportunities to the girl so that they can excel in their chosen fields. “I want from the bottom of my heart that every house in my village has a girl who excels in sports and even breaks all the records set by me. I urge all my elders to give the opportunity to my sisters to make their mark in their chosen field as they have all the potential to achieve big. But they need your blessings, support, faith and encouragement,” she said.

Vinesh also thanked the countrymen and added that she would always be indebted to the country and the soil of her native village that gave her so much honour and love. “I am always ready to teach my sisters in my village whatever I have learnt in wrestling and pray that they go higher than me. It will be a proud moment for her when they bring honour to the village and the country,” she said.

The villagers and gram panchayats of Balali village and many adjoining villages honoured her in the function organised in the village temple at night. Vinesh’s uncle and coach Mahavir Phogat also thanked the countrymen for showering affection and expressing solidarity with Vinesh.

Amit Sangwan, former sarpanch of Balali village, who was present at the function, said villagers want Vinesh to continue to play though she did not make any announcement regarding her plans about her wrestling career.