Paris, France, August 8, 2024: India’s ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling on Thursday, August 8, on a social media post following her heartbreak at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Revealing her decision on X, Phogat wrote: “Mother, sorry wrestling has beaten me, I’ve lost. Your dreams and my courage are shattered. I don’t have any more strength now. Goodbye wrestling 2001-2024. I will forever be indebted to all of you. Sorry.”
Phogat, 29, was disqualified ahead of the women’s freestyle 50kg category gold medal final on Wednesday after failing to make weight, missing the cut by 100 grams.
Phogat is a three-time Olympian, and has three Commonwealth Games gold medals. She also won a gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year. In 2022, she was named BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year.