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.
"It is said that sport is a celebration of human will. I have known that to be true many times in my career but never has it resonated more than today. As I look around me, I see a nation and its people celebrate your unyielding resolve," Bindra posted on 'X' along with a couple of pictures of meeting her, as per PTI.
"You are a fighter - on and off the mat. Through you, we are learning what it means to never lose the fight in us, even as a loss weighs heavily. You embody the true spirit of a warrior."
Three-time Olympian Vinesh, who owns gold medals from the Asian and Commonwealth Games, resorted to extreme means to stay under 50 kg, such as depriving herself of food, avoiding liquids, and staying up late to work off the extra weight.
It was not to be, though, as she ultimately failed to meet expectations and became so dehydrated that an IV infusion was required at a polyclinic in the Games Village.
"Not all victories look alike. Some end up as a glittering souvenir in a cabinet but the ones that matter more find their way into the stories we tell our children," Bindra continued in his post.
"And every child in this country will know the champion you are. Every child will grow up wanting to face life with the resilience you have displayed. I thank you for that."
On Wednesday, Vinesh filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) challenging her dismissal from the Olympic finals and requesting a shared silver medal. There is still time to make a choice.
The wrestler from Haryana has been protesting against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan, who grapplers have accused of sexual harassment, for more than a month on the streets of Delhi.
