Vinesh Phogat Announces Wrestling Retirement After Olympic Setback

New Delhi – Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has officially announced her retirement from the sport after a disappointing experience at the Paris Olympics. Vinesh, who had reached the final, was disqualified due to failing to meet the weight requirement during the second weigh-in on the day of the final, leading to the loss of her confirmed medal.

At 29, Vinesh Phogat had already made history as the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final. Her retirement marks the end of a remarkable career that includes three Commonwealth Games golds, two World Championship bronze medals, an Asian Games gold, and an Asian Championship title in 2021.

In an emotional post on social media early Thursday, Vinesh expressed her sorrow, stating, “Mother wrestling, you defeated me. Forgive me. My dreams are shattered. My courage is broken. I have no more strength now. Goodbye wrestling. I will always be indebted to you. Sorry.”

Vinesh, hailing from the renowned Phogat wrestling family, had a challenging 18 months, including leading protests against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) over serious allegations, including sexual harassment and mental abuse. The protests, led alongside Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, were pivotal in addressing issues within the federation.

The WFI was suspended until fair practices were established, and Vinesh returned to competitive wrestling by winning the gold medal in the 55kg category at the national level. Despite securing a quota for the Paris Olympics by reaching the final at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers, Vinesh's Olympic journey ended abruptly with the disqualification.

Her retirement marks the conclusion of a storied career and a significant chapter in Indian wrestling history.