Phogat sisters honoured for Commonwealth Games glory

The Phogat sisters Babita and Vinesh, who won wrestling gold medals in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, were honoured here Saturday by the Maruti Suzuki Kamgar Union (MSKU).

Babita and Vinesh, along with their elder sister Geeta, who missed the Games due to an injury, were felicitated outside the MSKU office at the car manufacturing giant's Gurgaon plant. The trio were awarded Rs.11,000 each.

"They were honoured for the hard work they did for the country. Babita and Vinesh won gold medals for India. It was our heartiest regards for wrestlers and other Indian players," a union leader told IANS.

Speaking on the occasion, Vinesh (48 Kg) said that she has been motivated by her cousins Geeta and Babita to win her first Commonwealth Games gold medal.

Geeta and Babita (53 Kg) said there was no help from the state government.

"We have written to Haryana government and sports minister several times but they could never provide us with mats for practice," Geeta said.

Babita said they got full support from their families.

"We usually practiced on mats arranged by my family at our house," Babita said.

Geeta and Babita were once subjected to criticism in their village Balali in Haryana's Bhiwani district for having chosen a sport dominated by males. But today, the Phogat sisters are celebrated in their village.

Geeta was the first Indian wrestler to win a gold medal in the sport in the 2010 Commonwealth Games. She was also the first Indian woman wrestler to qualify for the London Olympics 2012.