Haryana govt to felicitate Vinesh Phogat as ‘medalist’: ‘Champion for us…’

Vinesh Phogat bid adieu to her international wrestling career, a day after being disqualified from the Olympics.

Published on: Aug 8, 2024, 12:55:49 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday said that the state will felicitate wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who retired after being disqualified from the Olympics, as a medallist. Calling her a “champion”, the chief minister said that all the respect and rewards that the Haryana government gives to an Olympic silver medalist will be given to Phogat.

“Our brave daughter of Haryana, Vinesh Phogat, performed brilliantly and entered the finals of the Olympics. Due to some reasons, she may not have been able to play the final of the Olympics but she is a champion for all of us…Our government has decided that Vinesh Phogat will be welcomed and felicitated like a medalist. All the respect, rewards and facilities that the Haryana government gives to the Olympic silver medalist will be gratefully given to Vinesh Phogat as well,” CM Saini wrote in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), in Hindi.

Also read: 'Vinesh, you didn't lose but you have been defeated': Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik after wrestler's retirement

He added, “We are proud of you Vinesh!”

Notably, according to its sports policy, the Haryana government offers ₹six crore to gold medallists in the Olympic Games, ₹four crore to silver medallists and ₹2.5 crore to bronze medal winners.

Vinesh Phogat announces resignation

On Tuesday night, Phogat had advanced to the gold medal bout by defeating Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 in the semi-finals and was set to compete against the United States' Sarah Ann Hildebrandt. However, she was disqualified on Wednesday after being found 100 grams overweight in the mandatory weigh-in.

Earlier on the day, Phogat bid adieu to her international wrestling career, saying she did not have the strength to continue.

Announcing her decision to retire from wrestling on social media, she wrote: “Mother wrestling won against me, I lost... Your dreams and my courage are shattered. I don't have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024. I will forever be indebted to all of you. Please forgive (me).”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.