Vinesh Phogat: Fans get emotional as wrestler announces retirement after Paris Olympics disqualification

“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, announcing her retirement.

See here:

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

Reacting to this, athlete Pooja Bishnoi shared a few photos of her with the wrestler and wrote, “Jab main Vinesh Phogat se mili tab unhone bola ki tumhare jaise mujhe abs banane hai. Hum dono sath me workout karenge. Or bola ki tum bahut aage jaaogi. Aap ne bahut lambi ladhai jeeti hai (When I first met Vinesh Phogat, she said she wanted abs like me and that we would workout together. She also said I’ll go a long way. You have won a long battle) I salute you champ. Proud of you champ.”

Jab main Vinesh Phogat se mili tab unone
bola ki tumhare jaise mujhe abs banane hai. Hum dono sath me workout karenge. Or bola ki tum bahut aage jaaogi.
Aap ne bahut lambi ladhai jeeti hai. I salute you champ . Proud of you champ 👏💔 pic.twitter.com/3ZGjWWCEVS

— Pooja Bishnoi (@poojabishnoi36) August 7, 2024

Boxing star Vijender Singh demanded a silver medal for Vinesh.

Silver apna hai bhan 👊🏽 #VineshPhogat https://t.co/vguepdO3nq

— Vijender Singh (@boxervijender) August 8, 2024

Former cricketer Yuvraj Singh also wished Phogat on X. He wrote, “I have always believed that the greatest comebacks come through after the biggest setbacks! You’ve made the entire nation proud and together we are all looking forward to seeing you come back stronger and victorious. More power to you.”

I have always believed that the greatest comebacks come through after the biggest setbacks!

You’ve made the entire nation proud and together we are all looking forward to seeing you come back stronger and victorious.

More power to you #VineshPhogat pic.twitter.com/dG1ozvig4u

— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) August 7, 2024

Phogat’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.”

विनेश आप हारी नही हराया गया हैं, हमारे लिए सदैव आप विजेता ही रहेगी आप भारत की बेटी के साथ साथ भारत का अभिमान भी हो 🫡😭 https://t.co/oRTCPWw6tj

— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) August 8, 2024

Here is how some X users reacted to Phogat’s retirement:

सबको गर्व है देश की बेटी पर..
दबदबा था दबदबा है दबदबा रहेगा..!
😘😘😘 pic.twitter.com/8azoBog6WC

— SHILPI PARIHAR (@ShilpiSinghINC) August 8, 2024

आप चैम्पियन थी,चैम्पियन है और हमेशा चैम्पियन रहेंगी।हम सभी भारतीयों को आप पर गर्व है।आप सभी लड़कियों के आदर्श है।you great @Phogat_Vinesh

— ranjitkumar (@ranjitk36344663) August 7, 2024

जी नहीं मैं आपकी बात से बिल्कुल असहमत हूँ!!
आपने 100 ग्राम कम करने के लिए अपने बाल काट लिए, रात भर पानी तक नहीं पिया, इतना पसीना बहाया… ये जीत नहीं तो और क्या है?
हमारे लिए यह आपके हौसले की जीत है, हमारे सपनों की जीत है, आप चैम्पियन थीं और रहेंगी, शाबाश 💫💪#VineshPhogat https://t.co/2hlTMUw8D6

— Navniet Sekera (@navsekera) August 8, 2024

Sab se jyada bura hota hai umeed aur haunsle ka toot jana. 💔

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Didn’t expect to wake up to this. To all those fuc$tards who mocked #VineshPhogat, may you all face this moment in your lives too. Cos only then you will realize what you all did to this brave girl!

Sorry… https://t.co/YSEwaxaddr pic.twitter.com/NP8JIzqsUv

— Aman Sharma (@amansharmadb) August 8, 2024

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 the gold medal.