"Goodbye, Wrestling"; Vinesh Phogat Announces Retirement After Paris Olympics Disqualification

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has announced her retirement from wrestling after she was disqualified from the Paris Olympics.

Vinesh took to social media to share her emotional message.

Her disqualification came after being found to be 100 grams over the weight limit during the weigh-in for her gold medal bout.

“Maa, kushti mere se jeet gayi, main haar gayi. Maaf karna, aapka sapna, meri himmat sab toot chuke. Isse zyada taqat nahi rahi ab” (Mom, Wrestling has defeated me, I have lost. I lost…my courage is all broken, I don't have any more strength now),” Vinesh posted on her social media account.

"Alvida, kushti (Goodbye, Wrestling 2001-2024),” she concluded.

On Tuesday, Vinesh made history as the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the gold medal bout in her category. She was guaranteed at least a silver medal before her disqualification.

The most devastating setback of the day was Vinesh's disqualification from the final match against Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of the United States for being 100 grams overweight during the morning weigh-in. The 29-year-old wrestler was completely shattered by the outcome.

Following her disqualification, Vinesh filed an appeal, requesting to be awarded a joint silver medal. She was replaced in the final by Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, whom Vinesh had defeated in the semifinals.

Lopez eventually lost to Hildebrandt in the championship match.

According to international regulations, any wrestler found to be overweight during the weigh-in process is automatically placed at the bottom of the final standings, regardless of their performance in the tournament.

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