Vinesh Phogat has this record in her name, she wrote an unmatched story of her exploits in wrestling, there was a lot of 'Dangal' with controversies too
29-year-old Vinesh Phogat has announced her retirement from wrestling. She took this decision after being disqualified from the Paris Olympics. Vinesh's moves may not have won India an Olympic medal, but she has dominated other major competitions. She has also been involved in many controversies during her career.
Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement (Photo: PTI)
Vinesh Phogat has said goodbye to her wrestling career. She did not even wait till she returned to India from Paris to announce her retirement. This sudden decision of Vinesh Phogat is being linked to her disqualification in the Paris Olympics. Vinesh, who had reached the final match of the women's 50 kg category in the Paris Olympics, was disqualified due to overweight, after which all her chances of winning a medal ended. Vinesh Phogat's career has been a unique combination of achievements and controversies.
This record is in the name of Vinesh Phogat
Before saying goodbye to wrestling, Vinesh Phogat has set a record which will be a big challenge for any other Indian female wrestler to break. Vinesh has made this record by playing 3 Olympics. In fact, she is the first Indian female wrestler to participate in 3 Olympics.
After Rio and Tokyo, Vinesh participated in the Paris Olympics. However, she could not win a medal anywhere. In Rio, an injury during a match became a hindrance in her path, while in Paris, there was a controversy related to disqualification. Meanwhile, in the Tokyo Olympics, she had to be out of the quarter-finals.
Vinesh Phogat's success story
Vinesh Phogat, who missed a medal on the Olympic mat, has won many medals in events like Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championship. She became Commonwealth Champion in 2014, 2018 and 2022. She became Asian Champion in the year 2018, where she won gold in the 50 kg event. Vinesh has won 2 bronze medals on the World Championship mat. She got this success in the years 2019 and 2022. Vinesh Phogat started her career in 2013 by winning a silver medal in the Youth Wrestling Championship.
'Dangal' ran well due to the biggest controversy
If 29-year-old Vinesh Phogat has written many success stories in wrestling, then during this time she also had a lot of controversies. Vinesh's most famous wrestling with controversies is from January 2023, when she, along with her fellow wrestlers, opened a front against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. They demanded his removal. Vinesh and her colleagues had accused former Wrestling Federation of India president and former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of molestation, sexual exploitation and arbitrariness.
This wrestling match soon took the form of a big movement. The players came out on the streets. During this, they also clashed with the police. Vinesh also got injured during this movement, due to which she stayed away from wrestling for many days. But, when she returned, a wonderful view of her preparations for the Paris Olympics was seen.
There was pain here as well as there!
Vinesh belongs to the Phogat family, famous for wrestling. She has faced as much pain in her family life as she had to face in her career. She lost her father when she was 9 years old. The mountain of sorrow that came with the death of her father was further deepened by her mother's cancer. However, even after all this, Vinesh did not give up. Her intentions were strong, as a result of which she could establish her identity as a champion player.