Vinesh wrote, "Ma, wrestling has won, I have lost. Please forgive me, your dreams and my courage, everything is broken."
Published Aug 08, 2024 | 9:46 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 08, 2024 | 9:46 AM
Vinesh Phogat. (X)
Wrestling champion Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from the sport, late at night on Wednesday, 7 August, after she was disqualified for being 100 grams overweight ahead of her 50 kg category gold medal bout in the Olympics on Wednesday.
Announcing her decision on social media, Vinesh sought forgiveness from everyone who supported her.
Further addressing her mother Premlata, Vinesh wrote, “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.
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
However, Vinesh appealed against her disqualification from the Olympic finals on Wednesday in the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), demanding that she be awarded a joint silver medal.
Vinesh had scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the gold medal bout in her category on Tuesday night.
She was assured of at least a silver medal before the disqualification.
Vinesh is a three-time Olympian and has won gold medals in both the Asian and Commonwealth Games.
Notably, Vinesh has been at the forefront of the protest against ex-WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is accused of sexual harassment against women wrestlers.
In August 2023, the athlete had undergone a knee replacement surgery.
Vinesh, who has always competed in the 53kg category, was forced to come down to 50kg just months before the Games after the Paris quota place in that division was locked by Antim Panghal.
Panghal lost in the opening round itself and is facing deportation after trying to facilitate her sister Nisha’s access to the Games Village on her accreditation card.
Fellow wrestler and Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia took to X, to express his solidarity with Vinesh.
He wrote: “Vinesh, you have not lost, you have been defeated, for us you will always be a winner, you are not only the daughter of India but also the pride of India.”
विनेश आप हारी नही हराया गया हैं, हमारे लिए सदैव आप विजेता ही रहेगी आप भारत की बेटी के साथ साथ भारत का अभिमान भी हो 🫡😭 https://t.co/oRTCPWw6tj
— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) August 8, 2024
Geeta Phogat, sister of Vinesh too took to X to laud the passion and struggle of the later.
“Sister Vinesh, we will always be indebted to you for what you have done for the country. Your passion and struggle will be remembered for centuries. You are a role model for all girls. Your saying goodbye to wrestling like this is very sad for the whole family and the whole country.”
विनेश आप हारी नही हराया गया हैं, हमारे लिए सदैव आप विजेता ही रहेगी आप भारत की बेटी के साथ साथ भारत का अभिमान भी हो 🫡😭 https://t.co/oRTCPWw6tj
— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) August 8, 2024
(With PTI inputs)
