Our fight will continue, the truth will prevail: Vinesh Phogat after returning to India from the Olympic Games in Paris

Overwhelmed by the wonderful reception she received upon her arrival from the Olympic Games in Paris, Wrestler Vinesh Phogat has said that her fight for the improvement of Indian Wrestling would continue and that “the truth will prevail“.

Hundreds of fans gathered outside New Delhi's IGI airport on Saturday to give a rapturous welcome to Vinesh, who was disqualified from the Olympics for being overweight after reaching the 50 kg final.

Vinesh's appeal against her disqualification was also rejected by the Ad Hoc Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

“Our fight is not over yet and the The fight will continue and I pray to God that the truth comes out,” Vinesh said in his address to the crowd.

Vinesh and his Olympic colleagues Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik have been protesting for over a year against the Indian Wrestling Federation and his former boss Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for his alleged sexual harassment of female wrestlers.

Six wrestlers, including Vinesh, gathered at Jantar Mantar last year in protest, demanding action against the former WFI chief, before being dispersed while trying to march to the new Parliament building.

Vinesh also said that the reception she received upon her arrival gave her the courage to pick up the thread and move on with her life.

“Having experienced love from my fellow Indians, my village and my family, I believe I have found the courage to let this wound heal. Maybe I can return to wrestling,” said 29-year-old Vinesh.

“I just want to say that the loss of the Olympic medal is the biggest wound in my life. I don't know how long it will take to heal this wound. I don't know if I will continue wrestling or not, but I want to channel the courage I had today (Saturday) in the right direction,” she added.