Vinesh Phogat has announced her retirement from the sport, a decision she shared through a heartfelt social media post. The 29-year-old grappler, who was disqualified from her gold medal bout in the 50kg freestyle wrestling category at the Paris Olympics, cited a lack of strength to continue her career. Phogat's disqualification occurred when she was found to be 100 grams overweight before the match. This announcement marked the end of her international wrestling career, which saw her becoming the first Indian woman to reach the gold medal bout in her weight class.
Bajrang Punia, another renowned Indian wrestler, expressed his support for Phogat. He shared a message on social media, telling her, «Vinesh, aap haari nahi, haaraaya gaya hai (Vinesh, you haven't lost; you have been defeated).» He emphasized that Phogat remains a source of pride for India, not just as a daughter of the nation but also as a symbol of its glory
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Earlier, after Vinesh has scripted history by reaching the finals, Bajrang Punia had tweeted: «Those who sow thorns in the path of these daughters, these daughters will stand up again and fight again. These daughters will definitely win!» Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia were among many wrestlers who had protested against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh.
In her emotional farewell, Phogat reflected on her journey and expressed regret, stating, «Maa kushti (wrestling) won against me, I lost. Forgive me, your dream and my
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