“It is natural to feel hurt” - Vinesh Phogat’s uncle Mahavir says he will try to convince retired wrestler to participate in Los Angeles 2028 Olympics
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement on Thursday, August 8, after she was disqualified ahead of the women’s 50 kg freestyle final at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Wednesday. Her uncle Mahavir Phogat has said her decision to retire was made out of hurt and that her family will convince her to compete at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Mahavir Phogat shot to national fame after Bollywood actor Aamir Khan presented his story in the 2016 movie ‘Dangal.' Speaking to the news agency ANI, Mahavir recently said:
“She was going to bring the Olympic gold this time but got disqualified. It is natural to feel hurt after such a setback and hence she arrived at this [retirement] decision. Once she is back home, we will try talking to her about competing in the 2028 Olympics.”
Vinesh Phogat, who made it all the way through to the finals of the women’s 50 kg freestyle event in Paris, was disqualified when she was found 100 grams overweight in the second weigh-in. Following the setback, the two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist announced her retirement from wrestling on Thursday.
Vinesh took to social media to make the announcement, writing (translated from Hindi):
“Wrestling won and I lost. Your dreams and my courage are shattered. Goodbye wrestling 2001-2024. I will always be indebted to you all. I am sorry.”
“It is a good step” - Mahavir Phogat lauds Haryana CM's initiative to give Vinesh Phogat a silver medalist’s reception
One of the aspects of Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification ahead of her final bout against Sarah Hildebrandt of the USA was the fact that she was denied the silver medal, which she would have received even if she had lost the final. As per the rules of the wrestling governing body United World Wrestling (UWW), wrestlers who fail a weigh-in are stripped of all medals and are ranked last in the tournament.
However, Nayab Singh Saini, the Chief Minister of Haryana, has decided to give Vinesh Phogat a grand welcome — one that is accorded to an Olympic silver medalist.
On this, Mahavir Phogat said (via ANI):
“It is a good initiative by the CM. He has accepted the fact that she has got the silver medal. It is a good step and I support this. I thank the Haryana government, it will encourage other athletes if such things ever happen to them."