New Delhi- Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling on Thursday, following a heartbreaking disqualification from the Paris Olympics. Phogat, found 100 grams overweight during the weigh-in ahead of her gold medal match, shared an emotional message on social media expressing her disappointment.
“It has been extremely unfortunate how events unfolded in her journey to the Olympic Gold,” wrote Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist and Arjuna Awardee Olympian Avneet Kaur Sidhu in a show of solidarity. “As a nation, let us stand by Vinesh and support her. It is also requested to the authorities concerned to give her a hero’s welcome when she returns back to India.”
Phogat’s disqualification from the final match against Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of the United States was a devastating setback for the 29-year-old wrestler, leaving her utterly shattered. The wrestling community and fans across India are rallying behind Phogat during this challenging time.