August 8, 2024: India’s first ever individual Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra has penned an inspiring note for wrestler Vinesh Phogat who was disqualified from Paris Olympics.

Sharing a couple of images with his meeting with the wrestler, he wrote,

“Dear Vinesh,                                                                            

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.

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.

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. 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.

Respect,

Abhinav Bindra”

Bindra said that Vinesh’s resilience will serve as an example to every child in India and she embody the true spirit of a warrior.