Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has decided to retire from wrestling after a tough experience at the Paris Olympics. She was disqualified from the tournament after failing to make weight on the day of the final, which meant she lost a chance at a medal she had almost secured.

Vinesh, who is 29 years old, had made history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final. Sakshi Malik, another Indian female wrestler, had won a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics, but Vinesh’s journey was cut short in Paris.

In a heartfelt social media post, Vinesh expressed her sadness and disappointment, saying that her dreams and courage were broken. She announced her retirement, saying goodbye to wrestling and apologizing for her departure.

Throughout her career, Vinesh won three Commonwealth Games gold medals, two World Championships bronze medals, and one Asian Games gold medal. She was also an Asian champion in 2021. Vinesh comes from the famous Phogat wrestling family, with her cousins Geeta, Sangeeta, and Babita also being wrestlers. Olympic bronze medallist Bajrang Punia is married to her cousin Sangeeta.

The past eighteen months have been challenging for Vinesh. Alongside other wrestlers, she led protests against the Wrestling Federation of India’s previous management, which was accused of misconduct. The protests highlighted issues within the federation and led to changes in its administration. Despite these challenges, Vinesh managed to win gold at the national championships before the Paris Olympics, showing her resilience and strength.