'Wrestling has won, I have lost': Vinesh Phogat retires after Olympic heartbreak

She was disqualified just before the gold medal bout for being 100 grams overweight

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It was supposed to be the crowning moment of Vinesh Phogat’s illustrious wrestling career — a chance to finally claim an elusive Olympic gold medal. Instead, the 29-year-old grappler found her long-cherished Olympic dream shattered by a cruel twist of fate, leading her to bid a tearful farewell to the sport she had devoted her life to.

Vinesh’s journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics had been arduous, marked by persistent challenges and heartbreaks. A three-time Olympian, she had previously suffered a careerthreatening anterior cruciate ligament tear while competing at the 2016 Rio Games. She fought her way back, only to be knocked out in the quarterfinals at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

This time, Vinesh seemed poised for glory, having secured a spot in the 50 kg final at the Paris Games. But in a devastating turn of events, she was disqualified just before the gold medal bout for being 100 grams overweight.