Vinesh Phogat comes out of retirement, eyes 2028 LA Olympics
What's the story
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has announced her return to professional wrestling after a long hiatus. The 31-year-old athlete had previously retired from the sport following a controversial incident at the Paris Olympics where she was disqualified for being over the weight limit by just 100gm. The incident sparked outrage and raised questions about her weight-cut management and last-minute protocols.
Career setbacks
Vinesh's Olympic journey and disqualification
Vinesh Phogat's Olympic journey has been marred by injuries and disappointments. She had to withdraw from her debut Games in 2016 due to a knee injury in the quarterfinals. In 2021, she was knocked out in the Tokyo Olympics quarterfinals despite being the top-ranked wrestler in her category. However, Paris seemed like a turning point as Vinesh made it to the final of women's 50kg category after defeating several top competitors.
Aftermath
Vinesh's appeal and retirement announcement
After her disqualification, Vinesh appealed to United World Wrestling (UWW) citing procedural lapses and seeking reinstatement. However, the appeal was rejected, confirming her disqualification. She then escalated the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), hoping for a rare reinstatement that would allow her to compete for the Olympic medal she had earned her way into. But CAS ruled against her, upholding UWW's decision. The emotional toll of these events led Vinesh to announce her retirement shortly after the Games, calling it one of the most heartbreaking moments in her career.
Comeback
Vinesh's return and future plans
In a recent Instagram post, Vinesh Phogat announced her comeback to professional wrestling with an eye on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. She reflected on her journey and said, "I still love this sport. I still want to compete." The Olympian, who is married to wrestler Somvir Rathee, welcomed a baby boy in July 2025. She added that her son will be joining her team as "my biggest motivation" for the upcoming Olympics.