Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement following a heartbreaking disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024 on Thursday morning. (Medal Table | Schedule & Results | Full Coverage)
The 29-year-old, who was disqualified for being 100 grams overweight ahead of her 50kg category gold medal bout, took to social media platform X to share her decision, stating that she no longer has the strength to continue in the sport.
"Ma, wrestling has won, I have lost. Please forgive me, your dreams and my courage, everything is broken," Vinesh wrote in an emotional post addressed to her mother, Premlata. She further added, "I don't have any more strength now. Goodbye wrestling 2001-2024. I shall be indebted to you all. Forgive (me)."
Phogat’s disqualification came as a severe blow, particularly after she had made history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the gold medal bout in her category. She was assured of at least a silver medal before the disqualification.
She took certain measures to make weight like being hungry, avoiding fluids, and staying up all night to sweat it out, ultimately leading her to spend much of the day at a polyclinic inside the Games village.
Following her disqualification, Phogat appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), demanding to be awarded a joint silver medal. The ad-hoc division of the CAS, set up for resolving disputes during the Olympic Games, is expected to take up her appeal in the next few hours.
Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who lost to Phogat in the semifinals, replaced her in the final against American Sarah Ann Hildebrandt. Hildebrandt won the bout to claim gold, while Phogat hopes for a joint silver with Lopez.
Despite the Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) suggestion to amend the current weigh-in rule, the sport's international governing body, United World Wrestling (UWW), has stated that the rule cannot be changed retrospectively. UWW President Nenad Lalovic expressed sympathy and mentioned that the suggestion would be discussed at an appropriate platform in the future.
Phogat's career has been illustrious, marked by three Olympic appearances and gold medals in both the Asian and Commonwealth Games. She also won two bronze medals at the World Championships.
(With PTI Inputs)
