Not over yet, fight has just begun: Wrestler Vinesh Phogat

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, August 25

Wrestling icon Vinesh Phogat, who missed the medal after being disqualified because of being overweight ahead of the final bout in the Paris Olympics, was honoured with a gold medal by the Sarv Khap Panchayat at a felicitation function organised here today.

Representatives of many khap panchayats from Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan participated in it in a considerable number while Vinesh’s uncle and ‘Dangal’ fame Mahavir Singh Phogat was also present on the occasion.

“The fight is not over yet, rather it has just begun. The fight is for the honour of our sisters, and it is the biggest fight of our lives. Even when we carried out agitation in Delhi, we would say the honour of sisters is more important than any Olympic medal,” said Vinesh while addressing the gathering.

She said, “It scares us when we look at our younger sisters doing wrestling. We also worry about what their future will be as everyone is not so mentally strong, but we want to assure our sisters not to afraid of doing wrestling, now your elder sisters are standing with you like a wall in every situation.”

Appealing to the emerging women wrestlers to work hard without any fear, Vinesh said, “You have to fulfil our dreams. You have to go ahead of us. Keep your courage, whatever talent God has given us or whatever we have learned in wrestling, all these are to help you.”

The international wrestler also appealed to the people present on the occasion to stand with their daughters firmly and provide them ample opportunity to prove their mettle.

“It is very difficult for a girl to move forward but when her family and community are with her, then no one can stop her from moving forward so every parent should support their daughters, they will make you proud,” she said.