Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement after being disqualified from the final match in the 50 kg category at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The 29-year-old Phogat wrote on the platform "X": "The wrestler won, and I lost. My dreams are shattered. I don't have the strength to continue." Phogat, who was unseeded, qualified for the final after winning three matches last Tuesday, becoming the first Indian woman to reach an Olympic wrestling final, only to be disqualified from the 50 kg finals due to a weight excess of 200 grams.
Phogat wrote: "Goodbye, wrestling from 2001 to 2024. I will always be grateful to all of you. I am sorry." Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised her, writing on "X": "Vinesh, you are a champion among champions, you are the pride of India, and an inspiration to every Indian citizen. Today's failure is painful. I wish words could express the despair I feel."
According to the team, Phogat's weight was 100 grams over the allowed limit of 50 kg on the second day of competition in Paris. Team doctor Dineshwar Pardiwala stated: "All strict measures were taken, including cutting her hair, yet her weight did not fall below the allowable limit." After her disqualification, Phogat was taken to the hospital, where she received fluids to prevent dehydration and underwent blood tests. Pardiwala said all the tests were normal and she is currently in good health.
The Indian Wrestling Federation filed an appeal with the international federation to overturn her disqualification, but their attempts were unsuccessful. Cuban wrestler Guzmán López qualified for the final instead of the Indian wrestler to face American Sarah Hildebrandt.
