Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from the sport through an emotional social media post. The 29-year-old, who was bound to compete for the 50kg gold medal bout, revealed her decision after dramatic events unfolded when she was ruled out of contention at the Paris Olympics 2024 due to an overweight of 100 grams.
A Tearful Goodbye
Having made history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to enter a gold medal bout in her category, Phogat expressed deep disappointment. In a message to her mother, Premlata, Phogat wrote, “Ma, wrestling has won, I have lost. Please forgive me, your dreams and my courage, everything is broken. I don’t have any more strength now. Goodbye wrestling 2001-2024. I shall be indebted to you all. Forgive (me),” Phogat, a two-time world championship bronze medalist, has now retired from wrestling.
Phogat’s Disqualification
The disqualification came barely minutes before the final contest Wednesday, with Phogat way above her category’s limit. Severe dehydration—in the wake of extreme measures taken to make the weight in, including fasting and without fluids all day, and staying awake all night—saw her spend much of the day at a polyclinic inside the Games village.
Appeal and Legal Proceedings
Phogat had appealed CAS to turn her disqualification into a joint silver medal with Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who took her place in the final bout against American Sarah Ann Hildebrandt. Hildebrandt went on to win that bout and take the gold medal. The appeal of Phogat was to be heard in the next few hours by the ad-hoc division of CAS set up in Paris for disputes arising from the Olympic Games.
Phogat’s Legacy
Phogat has had a career resonating with gold medals in Asian and Commonwealth Games and has been one of the icons in wrestling. Her recent efforts also include spearheading protests against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accused of sexual harassment.
Vinesh Phogat’s retirement brings curtains on one of the remarkable journeys as a three-time Olympian and the trailblazer of Indian women in wrestling.
The Sportz Planet Desk,
Atharva Shetye
