Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has dramatically reversed her decision to retire from wrestling, announcing her intention to return to the mat to compete for an Olympic medal at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
The move comes days after the Asian Games gold medalist had announced her retirement following a heartbreaking disqualification from the Paris Olympics gold medal bout.
The Decision to Return
Vinesh, who had quickly pivoted to politics by joining the Congress party and winning a state assembly seat, shared her change of heart on social media (X) on Friday, stating she needed time away for “reflection.”
- Finding the Fire: “I needed to step away from the mat, from the pressure… For the first time in years, I allowed myself to breathe,” Vinesh wrote. “And somewhere in that reflection, I found the truth, I still love this sport. I still want to compete… ‘the fire never left’.”
- New Motivation: Vinesh declared she is “stepping back toward LA28 with a heart that’s unafraid.” She also announced a major personal motivation: “this time, I’m not walking alone my son is joining my team, my biggest motivation, my little cheerleader on this road to the LA Olympics.”
Paris Olympics Heartbreak
Vinesh was the first Indian woman wrestler to ever reach an Olympic gold medal bout, securing a guaranteed silver medal with a stunning win over four-time world champion Yui Susaki of Japan. However, her dream was shattered hours before the final:
- Disqualification: During the routine morning weigh-in, Vinesh was found to be 100 grams overweight and was immediately disqualified.
- Failed Appeal: Under United World Wrestling (UWW) rules, a failed weigh-in renders all previous results invalid. Vinesh’s plea to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for the guaranteed silver medal was rejected.
Political Career Update
Despite the reversal on the wrestling front, Vinesh successfully launched her political career upon returning to India:
- She joined the Congress party.
- She won the Haryana assembly election from the Julana constituency in Jind, defeating the BJP’s Yogesh Bajrangi.
- She follows in the footsteps of her cousin, Babita Phogat, who also entered politics, though the latter was unsuccessful in the 2019 assembly elections.