Overwhelmed with love, wrestler Vinesh Phogat wants girls to excel in sports, assures support

Deepender Deswal

Hisar, August 18

Visibly physically exhausted, a poignant looking Vinesh Phogat reached her native Balali village amid a rousing welcome by men and women who waited for around 14 hours in Charkhi Dadri district.

Vinesh accompanied by her family members including mother Prem Lata, uncle and coach Mahavir Phogat, fellow wrestler Bajrang punia and others, arrived in the village around 1 am after midnight.

Addressing the villages, Vinesh feeling overwhelmed and trying to control her emotions 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 that she did not make any announcement regarding her plans about her wrestling career.