NEW DELHI: Shooter Abhinav Bindra, who became India's first individual Olympic gold winner, paid wrestling champion Vinesh Phogat heartfelt accolades on Thursday, stating that she epitomizes the "true spirit of a warrior" and that her struggle spoke to him.
The 29-year-old, who had made history as the first female wrestler from India to compete in an Olympic final, announced her shocking retirement after learning that she had been disqualified from the 50kg gold medal match due to her excess weight of 100 grams.
