'Alvida Kushti': Vinesh Phogat Announces Retirement After Olympics Disqualification

Devastated by her disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024, top Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has announced her retirement from the sport. She was close to winning a gold medal in the women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling event but was disqualified after exceeding her weight limit by 100 grams during the morning weigh-in. Vinesh even appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In a social media post, she expressed that wrestling had beaten her in the end, and it broke her spirit.

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

"Wrestling won match against me, I lost... Your dreams and my courage are shattered. I don't have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024. I will forever be indebted to all of you. Sorry," Vinesh Phogat posted on X.

The Indian Express reports that Phogat, a strong contender in the 50 kg category, was found to be overweight on the morning of her highly anticipated final match. Following her disqualification, the 29-year-old athlete collapsed and was hospitalised due to dehydration.

Vinesh Phogat Disqualified

Sources reveal that Phogat tipped the scales at nearly 100 grams over the permissible limit, a marginal excess that could cost her dearly. According to tournament rules, this overage not only disqualifies her from the gold medal match but also renders her ineligible for the silver medal. The 50 kg category now faces the unusual scenario of awarding only gold and bronze medals.

The drama unfolded in two acts. Phogat successfully made weight for her Tuesday bouts, clearing the first hurdle with apparent ease. However, Olympic wrestling demands consistency, requiring athletes to meet weight requirements on both competition days. The Indian Express reports that Phogat struggled with her weight on Tuesday night, finding herself nearly two kilogrammes over the limit.

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PM Narendra Modi On Vinesh Phoghat’s Olympics Disqualification

Vinesh, you are a champion among champions! You are India's pride and an inspiration for each and every Indian.

Today's setback hurts. I wish words could express the sense of despair that I am experiencing.

At the same time, I know that you epitomise resilience. It has always…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 7, 2024

"Vinesh, you are a champion among champions! You are India's pride and an inspiration for each and every Indian. Today's setback hurts. I wish words could express the sense of despair that I am experiencing. At the same time, I know that you epitomise resilience. It has always been your nature to take challenges head-on. Come back stronger! We are all rooting for you," the Prime Minister posted on X.

According to PTI, Prime Minister Modi spoke with IOA President PT Usha to get firsthand information about the situation and the options available to India following Vinesh Phogat’s setback. He requested that she explore all possible avenues to support Vinesh’s case and urged her to file a strong protest against the disqualification if it could benefit Vinesh.

Indian Olympic Association Official Statement

Indian Wrestler Vinesh Phogat disqualified from the Women’s Wrestling 50kg for being overweight.

It is with regret that the Indian contingent shares news of the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the Women’s Wrestling 50kg class. Despite the best efforts by the team through… pic.twitter.com/xYrhzA1A2U

— ANI (@ANI) August 7, 2024

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) released a statement, confirming the unfortunate turn of events, "It is with regret that the Indian contingent shares news of the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the Women's Wrestling 50kg class. Despite the best efforts by the team through the night, she weighed in a few grams over 50kg this morning. No further comments will be made by the contingent at this time. The Indian team requests you respect Vinesh's privacy. It would like to focus on the competitions on hand."

This disqualification is more than just a technicality, it's a crushing blow to Phogat's Olympic dreams. Her remarkable journey to the finals, filled with hard-fought victories and personal sacrifices, now ends in heartbreak just steps away from the ultimate prize.

As the wrestling community and fans alike grapple with this news, questions arise about the pressures athletes face in weight-class sports. Phogat's situation highlights the razor-thin margins that can separate triumph from tragedy in Olympic competition.

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Image Courtesy: X