'Goodbye wrestling': Vinesh Phogat announces retirement after Paris Olympics disqualification

Vinesh Phogat to have a stable brand portfolio, said brand experts.

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement early Thursday following a disheartening disqualification from the Paris 2024 Olympics.

In a poignant farewell message on microblogging site X, Phogat revealed her decision after being disqualified from the 50 kg freestyle final for exceeding the weight limit. She wrote, “Wrestling won against me, I lost...my courage is all broken, I don't have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024.”

माँ कुश्ती मेरे से जीत गई मैं हार गई माफ़ करना आपका सपना मेरी हिम्मत सब टूट चुके इससे ज़्यादा ताक़त नहीं रही अब।

Story continues below Advertisement

Remove Ad

अलविदा कुश्ती 2001-2024

आप सबकी हमेशा ऋणी रहूँगी माफी

— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) August 7, 2024

The 29-year-old athlete conveyed her deep sadness and gratitude, stating, “Maa kushti jeet gayi, main haar gayi” (Wrestling has defeated me, I have lost). She apologised to her fans and expressed her eternal gratitude to her supporters. Her retirement concludes a distinguished career that began in 2001.

Phogat, disqualified from the Paris Olympics for missing the weight cut by 100 grams in the women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling, appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Wednesday. She has requested a joint silver medal. CAS has until Thursday to deliver its final verdict. If the ruling is in Phogat’s favor, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will be required to award her the joint silver medal.

She scripted history on Tuesday by becoming the first Indian woman to reach the final of an Olympic wrestling event. She secured her place in the final with a dominant 5-0 victory over Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez.