“This Title For Vinesh Didi,” Says U17 Champion Neha Sangwan (image-instagram/ashokdanoda)
The 16-year-old Neha Sangwan from Balali clinched the gold medal at the ongoing U-17 Wrestling World Championship in Amman, Jordan. Soon after being the first women wrestler from Vinesh’s village to follow in the footsteps of India’s ace wrestler, while speaking to Indian Express, Neha said “Yeh medal Vinesh didi ke liye hai and unka hi hai (this medal is for Vinesh didi’s and it is her’s).
Last week when Vinesh received a grand welcome in her village after her return from Paris, Neha was one among many who stood awake past midnight to drape her with a garland made of currency notes.
Read also: Delhi Court Demands Report On Security Withdrawal Of Women Wrestlers
Vinesh spoke to her village about her wish to see women wrestlers from her village follow in her footsteps and make a name for themselves. And she did not have to wait much too long to witness it right in front of her eyes.
Neha on Thursday won the U-17 title in the 57kg category with a 10-0 win over Japan’s So Tsutsui.
During the felicitation ceremony, Neha said that Vinesh was her inspiration. “Vinesh didi has gone where no other wrestler from the village has achieved. For us, the Olympic gold was hers and that’s what we want to tell her. If we can emulate her even in a small way, we would be glad. Didi met us before the Olympics and told us that every single one of us should dream about the Olympics. That’s what will keep us going and she remains synonymous with the Olympics for us,” she said.
Just a few days after Vinesh’s speech, her father Amit Kumar couldn’t hardly believe his daughter had made the entire village proud.
Read also: Neha Sangwan, Native Of Vinesh Phogat’s Village, Crowned U-17 World Champion
He said that Neha had spent the whole afternoon getting the garland made for Vinesh’s welcome last week. “When she had gone on stage, Vinesh would tell her that girls like her should complete her dream. To see Neha win her first world title would have made Vinesh happy too today. It’s a special feeling for the whole of Balali village too,” Sangwan said.
