Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has hinted at a retirement U-turn, via a statement on her X (the erstwhile Twitter) handle. This came two days after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dismissed her appeal for a joint silver medal at the Paris Olympics.
In a heartfelt post, Vinesh looked back at her career and spoke about her father’s dreams and mother’s struggles that made her resilient. She also thanked her husband, Somvir, for the unwavering support. She also expressed her gratitude towards the IOA-appointed chief medical officer at the Olympics, Dinshaw Padiwalla.
“Maybe under different circumstances, I could see myself playing till 2032, because the fight in me and wrestling in me will always be there,” Vinesh wrote. “I can’t predict what the future holds for me, and what awaits me in this journey next but I am sure that I will continue to fight always for what I believe in and for the right thing.”
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— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) August 16, 2024
Vinesh became the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympics final, but ahead of the gold-medal bout in the 50kg category, she was found overweight by 100 grams and was subsequently disqualified. A plea was filed before the CAS to allow the wrestler to have a joint silver medal, as she won her semi-final bout fair and square. But the CAS rejected it, issuing a one-liner: “The application filed by Vinesh Phogat on August 7 has been dismissed.”
As events unfolded, the role of the IOA was questioned. But Vinesh was effusive in her praise for Padiwalla. “Dr Dinshaw Padiwalla. This is not a new name in Indian Sports,” she wrote. “For me, and I think for many other Indian athletes, he is not just a doctor but an angel in disguise sent by god.”
The entire team around Vinesh tried its best to ensure that she passed the second weigh-in. As it turned out, the 29-year-old was done in by fine margins. Sport can be cruel at times.
Vinesh had earlier announced her retirement from wrestling through a social media post. As the dust gradually settles on the matter, she is probably having a rethink.
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