In the past two weeks, Vinesh Phogat has experienced a whirlwind of emotions. She reached the pinnacle of success by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final, only to face a setback when she was disqualified for being 100 grams over the weight limit on the day of her gold medal bout. Her request for a shared silver medal was also rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Despite these challenges, Vinesh has been met with overwhelming support and admiration since her return to India from Paris. She has been greeted warmly wherever she goes, with promises of cash prizes also announced. However, her husband Somvir Rathee has denounced claims that several organizations promised her over Rs 16 crore, asserting that such false claims are damaging and meant to exploit her situation for publicity.
“Vinesh Phogat has not received any money from the following organizations, businessmen, companies, and parties. All of you are our well-wishers, please do not spread false news. This will not only harm us but will also harm social values. This is just a means to gain cheap popularity,” Rathee stated in a post on X.
निम्नलिखित संस्थाओं, व्यापारियों, कंपनियों और पार्टियों द्वारा विनेश फोगाट को कोई धनराशि प्राप्त नहीं हुई है. आप सभी हमारे शुभचिंतक लोग हैं, कृपया झूठी खबरें न फ़ैलाएँ. इससे हमारा नुक़सान तो होगा ही. सामाजिक मूल्यों का भी नुक़सान होगा.
यह सस्ती लोकप्रियता पाने का साधन मात्र है. pic.twitter.com/ziUaA8ct1W
— Somvir Rathee (@somvir_rathee) August 18, 2024
Upon her return, Vinesh was given a grand reception at IGI airport, with numerous supporters showing their solidarity. Fellow wrestlers like Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, along with local leaders, were present to welcome her. Despite the disappointment of her disqualification in Paris, Vinesh was heavily garlanded and thanked her supporters from an open Jeep. Congress leader Deepender Hooda joined her, offering sweets and presenting a mace as a ‘symbol of victory,’ which moved Vinesh to tears. She was later accompanied by her caravan to her village, Balali in Haryana, where she continued to be greeted by her admirers.