Vinesh Phogat hints at retirement U-turn with cryptic post

Wrestler-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat hinted at returning to the sport with a cryptic Instagram post. The Asian Games gold medallist took to her social media platform on Monday, 4 November and said that she has been hurting, but she still has courage left in her to pursue her goal.

The wrestler, who was at the centre of the failed weigh-in controversy during the Paris Olympics, put out a short poem of 4 lines, where she hinted at her return. Phogat had originally retired from wrestling after she was disqualified from the final of the 50kg event after being overweight by just 100 grams.

"Granted, you're tired today. Granted, today you're a wounded bird. But you still have courage within you. You're still alive for the sake of your goal," Vinesh wrote on his Instagram



channel.

The 29-year-old wrestler, had become the first Indian female to reach an Olympic final, was one bout away from a historic gold after putting up stunning performances on the way to the final. However, she was disqualified after the mandatory morning weigh-in on the day of the final, which showed her being overweight by 100 grams.

Announcing her retirement, she said in a post on X in Hindi, "Ma Kusti (Mother, wrestling) won against me, I lost. Forgive me, your dream and my courage has been broken. I don't have any more strength now."

"Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024," she added in the post.

After returning to the country, Vinesh fought the Haryana Assembly elections for the Congress party and won the Julana seat by 5,761 votes.