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Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was honored with a gold medal by the Sarvkhap Panchayat in Haryana on her birthday, Sunday, August 25. Vinesh had made history at the Paris Olympics by becoming the first Indian female wrestler to reach the Olympic finals.
Unfortunately, her remarkable journey faced a tragic end when she was disqualified on the morning of her gold medal match against Sarah Hildebrandt from the USA for being 100 grams over the 50 kg weight limit for the event. Despite her efforts to shed the 2.8 kg she had gained after the first day by working hard throughout the night, the 30-year-old fell just 100 grams short of the limit. Despite this setback, she received a warm welcome upon returning to India and was celebrated in her hometown. She was further honored on her birthday with a special gold medal from the Sarvkhap Panchayat.
Reflecting on her Olympic disqualification, Phogat expressed that while she was deeply disheartened, she felt incredibly fortunate due to the overwhelming support she received upon returning home.
“My battle is far from over; it has merely begun. The struggle for the honor of our daughters has just started. During our protest, I felt very unfortunate when I couldn’t compete in Paris. However, after coming back to India and experiencing all the love and support, I now feel extremely fortunate. This honor surpasses any medal, and I will always be grateful for it,” she remarked.
Following her disqualification, Phogat also contested the decision made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and United World Wrestling (UWW) in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). However, her appeal was rejected after a week-long hearing.
In the wake of her disappointing disqualification, Phogat announced her retirement from international wrestling. She shared her emotional farewell with her fans through a heartfelt note on social media before her return.