Haryana’s Saini government to extend benefits equivalent to Olympic silver medallist, to Paris hero Vinesh 

#WATCH | Chandigarh | Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini says, “I have said this earlier also that Vinesh is the daughter of Haryana, and we will not let her honour be diminished. As per the silver medal category, athletes are entitled to three types of benefits: a cash… pic.twitter.com/qLhHjvhI6g

— ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2025

Vinesh, India’s only three-time World Championship women’s medallist, besides being an Asian Games champion, had managed a dream run at Paris Olympics, before her medal March was cut short after weighing 100 grams over the 50 kg weighing scale. It was a cruel end to one of India’s finest performances at Paris that saw her reach the finals that were to be held on Day 2. Though she was declared ineligible for the medal, Vinesh had scored one of the Games’ biggest upsets defeating Japanese juggernaut Sui Susaki, soon after clearing weight on Day 1.

Intense starving and dehydrating overnight did not result in her making weight on the second day, but all of India had been enthused to watch its foremost woman wrestler go right up to the Finals where she could’ve contended for gold, and had an assured silver.

The subsequent disqualification cost her and the nation a massive medal as India returned without a gold from Paris. However, CM Saini, back then not the leader of the state legislature, had tweeted that Vinesh would be treated with utmost honour.

Vinesh had subsequently retired from the sport, and won the state assembly election from Julna constituency under the Congress ticket.

When the topic was broached on the floor of the house, Saini responded by discussing the matter in the cabinet and declared Vinesh would be extended the same honours as medallists, and could pick her choice of the form of reward.