Vinesh Phogat Wrestling Journey: In January 2023, Vinesh Phogat, along with around 30 Indian wrestlers, including notable champions like Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, staged a significant protest against Brij Bhushan Singh, the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). Singh faced serious accusations of sexually harassing female athletes over an extended period. The protest, held at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, aimed to demand accountability and justice within the sports administration.
Detention During Demonstration
In May 2023, Phogat and several other athletes were detained by the police during a march towards the new Parliament building on its inauguration day. Their demonstration sought to raise awareness about various issues within Indian sports governance and to advocate for essential reforms.
Triumphant Return to Wrestling
Phogat’s resilience shone through in February 2024 when she made a triumphant return to the wrestling mat, winning the national championship in the 55 kg category. Her momentum continued in March 2024 as she competed in both the 50 kg and 53 kg categories, securing victory in the lighter division at the selection trials for the Asian Wrestling Championships and the Asian Olympic Games qualifier.
Securing Olympic Quota
April 2024 marked a significant milestone for Phogat as she earned an Olympic quota in the women’s 50 kg category by reaching the final of the Asian Olympic qualifier.
Olympic Journey and Heartbreaking Turn
On the morning of July 6, 2024, Phogat entered the Olympics in the 50 kg category. She showcased her exceptional skills, winning all her matches straight to advance to the finals. However, her journey took a heartbreaking turn that night. After the semifinals, Phogat’s weight was found to be 2.7 kg over the allowed limit. With just 12 hours to meet the standards, her team embarked on an intense process to reduce her weight, using every medically possible method.
Final Attempts and Disqualification
Despite their best efforts, including drastic measures like cutting her hair and shortening her clothes, Phogat faced immense difficulty. On the morning of July 7, after a long night of trying to reduce her weight, she walked in to get weighed at 12:30 pm IST (9 am Central European Time).
Emotional Retirement Announcement
Heartbroken over missing out on a medal, Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling today morning on social media platform X, just hours after her disqualification at the Olympics. In an emotional post, Phogat wrote, “Wrestling won the match against me, I lost…my courage is all broken, I don’t have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024. I will forever be in your debt.”