Vinesh Phogat retires: ‘Mom, sorry wrestling has beaten me, I’ve lost… my courage is shattered’

Paris Olympics 2024: India's ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling on Thursday on a social media post following her heartbreak at the Games.

Vinesh Phogat after winning her Women's Freestyle 50kg Round of 16 wrestling match against Japan's Yui Susaki at the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France. (PTI Photo)

Following her heartbreaking disqualification ahead of the Paris Olympics wrestling final, Vinesh Phogat has announced her retirement from wrestling on Thursday.

Vinesh was on the cusp of history after becoming the first Indian woman to qualify for an Olympic wrestling final. However, the 29-year-old failed to make weight, missing the cut by 100 grams during the weigh-in on Wednesday morning, leading to her disqualification from the 50kg category event.

“Mother, wrestling beat me, I lost. Your dream and my courage are all broken. I don’t have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024. I will forever be in your debt,” Vinesh wrote on X.

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

अलविदा कुश्ती 2001-2024 🙏

आप सबकी हमेशा ऋणी रहूँगी माफी 🙏🙏

— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) August 7, 2024

Taking to social media, Vinesh’s compatriot Bajrang Punia wrote: “Vinesh, you have not lost, you have been defeated, for us you will always be a winner, you are not only the daughter of India but also the pride of India.”

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The Indian Express understands that Vinesh and the Indian contingent also filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with the demand that Vinesh Phogat be awarded the silver medal. A ruling is expected to be made by the supreme sports body on Thursday morning.

An ad-hoc division of the CAS was set up at the Games for resolution by arbitration of any disputes arising during the Olympic Games or a period of 10 days preceding the Opening Ceremony. The matter will be taken up on Thursday morning.

Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who lost to Vinesh in the semifinal, replaced her in the final against American Sarah Ann Hildebrandt on Wednesday night. The American Hildebrandt won the bout to claim gold while Vinesh will bank on the CAS rule to be a joint silver-medallist alongwith Lopez.