Vinesh Phogat, an Indian wrestler, has declared her retirement following her tragic disqualification from the Olympics on Thursday 8 August. The 29-year-old, who was disqualified for being 100gm overweight before her gold medal match in the 50kg category on Wednesday, announced her decision on X. She shared an emotional message on social media.
माँ कुश्ती मेरे से जीत गई मैं हार गई माफ़ करना आपका सपना मेरी हिम्मत सब टूट चुके इससे ज़्यादा ताक़त नहीं रही अब।
— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) August 7, 2024
अलविदा कुश्ती 2001-2024 🙏
आप सबकी हमेशा ऋणी रहूँगी माफी 🙏🙏
“Mom, Wrestling has defeated me, I have lost. I lost…my courage is all broken, I don’t have any more strength now, Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024,” Vinesh wrote in Hindi on X.
Vinesh made history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the gold medal bout in 50kg category on Tuesday (6August). She was assured of at least a silver medal before the disqualification.
Vinesh’s disqualification from the final match against Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of the United States due to being 100gm overweight during the morning weigh-in was the most devastating setback of the day. Vinesh was utterly shattered by the turn of events.
Following her disqualification, Vinesh Phogat has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) asking for a joint silver medal. She was replaced in the final by Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, whom Vinesh had defeated in the semifinals. Lopez ultimately lost to Hildebrandt in the final match.
As per international regulations, any wrestler found to be overweight during the weigh-in process will automatically be placed at the bottom of the final standings, regardless of their performance in the tournament.
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Source: TOI