Vinesh Phogat Visits Golden Temple, Prays To Waheguru To Give Her Strength

It has been a topsy-turvy month for Vinesh after she reached the final of the women’s 50kg event but still returned to India empty-handed. On August 7, Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of the United States stood between Vinesh and the gold medal.

#VineshPhogat@Phogat_Vinesh pic.twitter.com/qDGBd0cXgA
 Praveen Panghal  (@ppanghalch) August 30, 2024

However, things went downhill after she was disqualified before the final after breaching the 50kg weight limit. A day after her heartbreaking disqualification, Vinesh announced her decision to retire from wrestling. She also made a plea to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to award her a joint silver medal.

The CAS deferred the verdict a couple of times and eventually dismissed the application filed by Vinesh for a silver medal in the women’s 50kg event at the Paris Olympics. Despite not receiving a medal for her efforts and landmark wins at the Olympics, an excited crowd of thousands welcomed the wrestler like they would have welcomed with a medal around her neck on August 17.

People thronged in thousands to get a glimpse of one of the country’s most celebrated athletes of recent times, waiting to exchange a few words and get a selfie with her. She was welcomed with garlands and flowers in her hometown, Bhiwani. Since announcing her retirement, Vinesh has also hinted towards a possible change in heart and reversing her decision.

In a statement that she posted on her social media account, Vinesh said, “Maybe under different circumstances, I could see myself playing till 2032 because the fight in me and wrestling in me will always be there.”