Several wrestlers, actors and politicians took to X
AFP
India's heartbroken Vinesh Phogat announced on Thursday her retirement from wrestling, a day after being disqualified from the women's 50kg competition at the Paris Olympics for being overweight for the final.
Phogat, who has won three Commonwealth Games gold medals, had been due to face Sarah Hildebrandt of the U.S. for the gold medal on Wednesday in Paris but was found to be 100 grams over the 50kg limit, despite the wrestler and her team working overnight to cut the kilos through exercising and 3 hours in sauna.
Phogat, 29, took to X to announce her retirement from the sport:
She wrote:
"Mother wrestling won against me, I lost. Your dreams and my courage are shattered,"
"I don't have any more strength now. Goodbye wrestling 2001-2024. I will forever be idebted to you all. Sorry."
Hildebrandt took gold in Wednesday’s final against Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, who was reprieved after losing her semi-final to Phogat on Tuesday.
The award ceremony of the Women’s Freestyle 50kg in the Paris OlympicsAFP
Indian media reported that Phogat has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against her disqualification and demanded a joint silver to be awarded.
IOA President PT Usha, on behalf of Team India took to X,
CAS is expected to announce its verdict on the case later on Thursday in Paris.
'A winner for us'
Videos of Phogat with chopped hair and sunken eyes, working out to cut her weight down in a last bid to compete in the final went viral on Wednesday. Phogat was in the public eye for months last year as part of a long-running protest against the then-chief of Indian wrestling when he was embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal.
Phogat was detained by the police during a protest against the wrestling federation chief over allegations of sexual harassment.AFP
"You will always remain a winner for us,"
"Apart from being India's daughter, you are the pride of India."
Bajrang Punia, a fellow leader of last year's protests, and a Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist, said on social media.
Another fellow protest wrestler and Olympic bronze-medallist, Sakshee Malikkh, said,
"Every daughter for whom you fought and won has lost"
Phogat, who passed the weigh-in on day one, stunned four-time world and defending Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan in the opener with a late takedown to claim a 3-2 decision en route to the final.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed support for Phogat on X.
With additional input from AFP.
Comments
See what people are discussing