Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has announced her retirement from the sport, a heartbreaking decision made following her disqualification from the Paris Olympics. The 29-year-old athlete shared an emotional message on social media, expressing her deep disappointment and the shattering of her dreams.
Vinesh was disqualified from the gold medal match after being found 100 grams overweight during the weigh-in. She had already secured at least a silver medal before the disqualification, making the turn of events even more devastating.
In her social media post, Vinesh wrote, “Mom, Wrestling has defeated me, I have lost. I lost…my courage is all broken, I don’t have any more strength now.” She concluded with a simple, “Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024.”
Vinesh had made history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the gold medal bout in her category. Following her disqualification, she filed an appeal requesting a joint silver medal. She was ultimately replaced in the final by Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, whom Vinesh had defeated in the semifinals. Lopez ultimately lost to Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of the United States in the championship match.
As per international regulations, any wrestler found to be overweight during the weigh-in process will automatically be placed at the bottom of the final standings, regardless of their performance in the tournament. Vinesh’s disqualification was a significant setback for the Indian athlete and a heart-wrenching moment for her supporters.
