‘Won’t let her retire. In our eyes, she won gold’: locals at Olympian Vinesh’s village

After reaching the final round of the Paris Olympics, wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified for being overweight by 100 grams. With this, her hopes to win a gold were dashed. Subsequently, she approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport for a silver medal. But that too was rejected. 

As Vinesh landed in Delhi on August 17, thousands of people welcomed her, moving her to tears. Meanwhile, at her village Balali in Charkhi Dadri district, preparations were on since morning to welcome her. 

Newslaundry spoke to her family, neighbours and locals of the village about Vinesh’s run at the Olympics, wrestlers’ protest, and their hopes for the wrestler. “In our eyes, Vinesh has won gold,” said one of the locals.

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