Not all is lost, Vinesh!

Tears adulation garlands there was everything on displayA tearyeyed Vinesh Phogat received an extraordinary reception upon her return to India as hundreds of supporters gathered outside Delhirsquos Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday to express their solidarity and admiration The grand welcome highlighted the deep respect and encouragement from her fans despite the heartbreak she experienced at the Paris Olympics where she was disqualified from the 50 kg final due to being overweightProminent figures including fellow wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik as well as local panchayat leaders were on hand to greet Vinesh The atmosphere was one of warmth and support as Vinesh heavily adorned with garlands stood in an open Jeep acknowledging the cheers of her admirers Congress leader Deepender Hooda was also present offering sweets to the wrestler in a gesture of celebration and supportWith a thick security presence ensuring her safety Vinesh who had been found 100 grams over the weight limit at the Olympics arrived in the national capital to a heartfelt reception Her convoy then headed towards her native village of Balali in Haryana making stops along the way to meet and thank supporters During the journey Hooda presented her with a mace symbolizing victory which moved Vinesh to tears Her husband Somvir was by her side offering comfort and supportIn a series of Twitter posts Deepender Hooda lauded Vinesh for her indomitable spirit and perseverance ldquoIn our eyes you have been a winner in the past and will remain so in the future too Your courage struggle and determination have not only won the hearts of millions but also inspired the youth of our nationrdquo Hooda wroteA group of about 50 supporters followed her jeep offering prayers at a temple in Dwarka Delhi before continuing their journey to Balali Vinesh had remained in Paris after her disqualification to challenge the decision with the Court of Arbitration for Sport CAS seeking to be awarded a joint silver medal However her appeal was dismissed on WednesdaySakshi Malik who also attended the reception praised Vineshrsquos contributions to womenrsquos sports ldquoShe has come back to her country after a long time and is understandably emotional She will spend time with her family and find solace Her achievements for womenrsquos wrestling are commendable Even without a medal she is a champion in our eyesrdquo Malik remarkedGagan Narang the London Olympics bronze medalwinning shooter and Chef de Mission of the Indian contingent in Paris also hailed Vineshrsquos remarkable spirit He shared a photo of himself with Vinesh at Paris airport and posted on X ldquoShe arrived as a champion and will always be one Sometimes an Olympic medal isnt necessary to inspire a billion dreams vineshphogat you have inspired generations Salute to your gritrdquoVineshrsquos brother Harvinder Phogat conveyed the excitement of their village stating ldquoPeople are eagerly waiting to welcome her home They are thrilled to meet Vinesh and offer their encouragementrdquoIn her first public remarks following the disqualification Vinesh expressed uncertainty about her future She noted that under different circumstances she could envision herself competing until 2032 as she still feels a strong passion for wrestling However the disqualification has cast doubt on whether things will ever be the same again Vinesh had announced her retirement from the sport shortly after her disqualificationIn a poignant social media post Vinesh reflected on her childhood dreams the challenges she faced after losing her father and the significant support she received throughout her journey She shared her deep gratitude for the contributions of those who have been part of her extraordinary albeit heartbreaking journey in Paris