NEW DELHI: Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has announced her retirement following her disheartening disqualification from the Olympics, stating she no longer has the strength to continue. The 29-year-old, disqualified for being 100 grams overweight before her 50kg category gold medal bout on Wednesday, shared her decision on social media.
Bajrang Punia, another prominent Indian wrestler, expressed his sadness over Vinesh's decision.
He took to social media and wrote: "Vinesh, aap haari nahi, haaraaya gaya hai (Vinesh, you haven't lost; you have been defeated."
"Hamaare liye sadaiv aap vijeta hi rahegi, aap Bharat ki beti ke saath-saath Bharat ka abhimaan bhi ho (For us, you will always be a winner. You are not only the daughter of India but also its pride)," he further wrote.
Vinesh, who made history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the gold medal bout in her category on Tuesday, was assured of at least a silver medal before her disqualification. She announced her retirement on Thursday morning, posting an emotional message on social media.
"Ma, wrestling has won, I have lost. Please forgive me, your dreams and my courage, everything is broken."
"I don't have any more strength now. Goodbye wrestling 2001-2024. I shall be indebted to you all. Forgive (me)," added the two-time world championships bronze-medallist.
Vinesh appealed her disqualification from the Olympic finals on Wednesday to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), requesting to be awarded a joint silver medal.
Paris Olympics: Heartbreak for Mirabai Chanu after Vinesh Phogat's disqualification on Day 12
Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who lost to Vinesh in the semifinals, took her place in the final against American Sarah Ann Hildebrandt. Hildebrandt won the bout to claim gold, and Vinesh is now hoping that CAS will award her a joint silver medal with Lopez.
However, the international governing body of the sport, United World Wrestling (UWW), has made it clear that the current weigh-in rule cannot be altered at this time.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less