Credits: X
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who faced disqualification on the day of her gold medal match at Paris Olympics 2024, announced retirement from the sport. Visibly distraught with what happened to her after she assured India of a t least a silver, frustrated Phogat took to social media and said that she has lost against wrestling. Notably, Phogat suffered disqualification after being 100grams over the weight limit of 50 kgs before the second weigh in. The 29-year-old had become the first Indian female wrestler to reach the Olympic finals after she took down her Cuban opponent, Yusneylis Guzman Lopez by a margin of 5-0 in the semi-final of 50kg freestyle.
Phogat took to X to announce her decision and tweeted that she doesn’t have anymore strength left in her. The Haryana-born wrote, “Mother, I lost and wrestling won. Forgive me, your dream and my courage has been broken. I don’t have anymore strength in me now. Good bye Wrestling (2001-2024). I will be forever be indebted to all of you, forgive me.”
Notably, Lupez, who lost her semifinal clash against Vinesh, replaced her in the final and ended up winning a silver medal. America’s Sarah Hildebrandt who was set to fight against the Indian defeated the Cuban and clinched the gold with a score of 3-0. Vinesh, comes from a proper wrestling family and is a three-time Olympian and has won three Commonwealth Games gold medals, two World Championships bronze and one Asia Games gold. Phogat was also the Asian Champion in 2021.
Phogat drew insipration and followed footsteps of her cousins, Geeta Phogat and Babita Phogat, two of the biggest names in Indian wrestling. She was introduced to wrestling by Geeta and Babita’s father, uncle Mahavir Singh Phogat.
