Vinesh Phogat Makes Big Retirement U-Turn, Sets Sights on 2028 LA Olympics
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat officially announced her return to the sport on Friday, December 12, confirming that she is back to chase her Olympic dream after stepping away from professional wrestling. The 31-year-old had earlier retired following the Paris Olympics controversy, where her medal hopes collapsed when she was denied a place in the final results despite reaching the gold-medal bout. Vinesh Phogat was disqualified on the morning of the title match for being 100 grams over the weight limit, a moment that shook Indian wrestling and left her Olympic dream in distress.
For Vinesh Phogat, the Paris Olympics controversy was particularly heartbreaking because she was on the verge of becoming the first Indian woman to compete in an Olympic wrestling final. Her journey through the competition had inspired fans across the country, yet her Olympic dream was shattered just hours before stepping onto the mat. The weight disqualification became one of the most unforgettable and painful moments in her Olympic journey.
In an emotional Instagram post, Vinesh Phogat reflected deeply on her 18-month break from the sport. She shared how she spent this time searching for clarity after the Paris Olympics controversy and how stepping away allowed her to heal and process the shock of her weight disqualification. Her reflections during this period helped reignite the fire within her, setting the foundation for her wrestling comeback and renewed Olympic dream.
Away from the mat, Vinesh Phogat also made headlines by entering politics. She contested the Haryana Assembly election last year and won the Julana constituency by a margin of 6,000 votes. This political victory became an important milestone during her time away from Indian wrestling and showed that her resilience extended far beyond the Paris Olympics controversy.
In her heartfelt message, Vinesh Phogat said, "People kept asking if Paris was the end. For a long time, I didn't have the answer. I needed to step away from the mat, from the pressure, from the expectations, even from my own ambitions. For the first time in years, I allowed myself to breathe." This honest reflection highlighted how much the Olympic dream and the Paris Olympics controversy had weighed on her emotionally. She added that taking a pause gave her the space to reconnect with the version of herself that loved wrestling without fear or pressure.
Vinesh Phogat continued her emotional message with, "I took time to understand the weight of my journey the highs, the heartbreaks, the sacrifices, the versions of me the world never saw. And somewhere in that reflection, I found the truth, I still love this sport. I still want to compete." This declaration showed that her wrestling comeback was not just a decision but a rediscovery of passion that had been buried under exhaustion after the weight disqualification and the long Olympic journey.
She also shared, "In that silence, I found something I'd forgotten 'the fire never left'. It was only buried under exhaustion and noise. The discipline, the routine, the fight... it's in my system. No matter how far I walked away, a part of me stayed on the mat." These words reflected the emotional strength behind her wrestling comeback and her desire to pursue her Olympic dream at LA28 after recovering from the Paris Olympics controversy.
Vinesh Phogat then declared, "So here I am, stepping back toward LA28 with a heart that's unafraid and a spirit that refuses to bow." Her return has placed her among elite Indian athletes who have resumed competition after childbirth. Vinesh, who is married to wrestler Somvir Rathee , welcomed a baby boy in July 2025. This new phase of life has added extra motivation to her Olympic journey and strengthened her determination.
Sharing this joy, she added, "And this time, I'm not walking alone. My son is joining my team, my biggest motivation, my little cheerleader on this road to the LA Olympics." For Vinesh Phogat, motherhood has now become part of her wrestling comeback story, blending personal responsibility with her goal of keeping her Olympic dream alive after the Paris Olympics controversy.
Her break from wrestling was necessary to mentally distance herself from what many consider one of the most heartbreaking chapters in Indian wrestling. Vinesh Phogat has faced a long history of Olympic setbacks. In 2016, she suffered a serious knee injury during the quarterfinals, forcing her to withdraw from her debut Games. In 2021, at the Tokyo Olympics, she entered as the top-ranked wrestler in her category but suffered a shock quarterfinal defeat. These disappointments shaped her Olympic journey long before the Paris Olympics controversy.
At the Paris Games, it finally looked like the curse had lifted. Vinesh Phogat stormed into the women’s 50kg final after defeating defending Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan, former European champion Oksana Livach of Ukraine and Pan American Games champion Yusneylis Guzman . Her performance revived hope in Indian wrestling and brought her Olympic dream within reach. But the weight disqualification on the morning of the final sent shockwaves through India and the global wrestling community.
The incident raised serious questions about her weight-cut process and the management of last-minute protocols. Vinesh Phogat later filed an appeal with United World Wrestling, arguing procedural lapses and asking for reinstatement. However, UWW rejected the appeal, confirming her disqualification and extending the heartbreak surrounding the Paris Olympics controversy.
Unwilling to give up her Olympic dream, Vinesh Phogat took her fight to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The CAS appeal kept her and her supporters in weeks of uncertainty as she claimed procedural missteps during the weigh-in. Despite examining her claims carefully, the CAS upheld the UWW decision, ending her hopes of competing in the Paris final. The ruling intensified the emotional toll of her Olympic journey.
The aftermath was devastating. Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement soon after, calling the episode the most heartbreaking moment of her wrestling career. The Paris Olympics controversy sparked nationwide debate about athlete support, weigh-in systems and accountability within Indian wrestling administration. Over the following months, she stepped away from the sport to rebuild mentally and physically, eventually leading her to rediscover her passion and announce her wrestling comeback.
For Vinesh Phogat, the Paris Olympics controversy was particularly heartbreaking because she was on the verge of becoming the first Indian woman to compete in an Olympic wrestling final. Her journey through the competition had inspired fans across the country, yet her Olympic dream was shattered just hours before stepping onto the mat. The weight disqualification became one of the most unforgettable and painful moments in her Olympic journey.
In an emotional Instagram post, Vinesh Phogat reflected deeply on her 18-month break from the sport. She shared how she spent this time searching for clarity after the Paris Olympics controversy and how stepping away allowed her to heal and process the shock of her weight disqualification. Her reflections during this period helped reignite the fire within her, setting the foundation for her wrestling comeback and renewed Olympic dream.
Away from the mat, Vinesh Phogat also made headlines by entering politics. She contested the Haryana Assembly election last year and won the Julana constituency by a margin of 6,000 votes. This political victory became an important milestone during her time away from Indian wrestling and showed that her resilience extended far beyond the Paris Olympics controversy.
In her heartfelt message, Vinesh Phogat said, "People kept asking if Paris was the end. For a long time, I didn't have the answer. I needed to step away from the mat, from the pressure, from the expectations, even from my own ambitions. For the first time in years, I allowed myself to breathe." This honest reflection highlighted how much the Olympic dream and the Paris Olympics controversy had weighed on her emotionally. She added that taking a pause gave her the space to reconnect with the version of herself that loved wrestling without fear or pressure.
Vinesh Phogat continued her emotional message with, "I took time to understand the weight of my journey the highs, the heartbreaks, the sacrifices, the versions of me the world never saw. And somewhere in that reflection, I found the truth, I still love this sport. I still want to compete." This declaration showed that her wrestling comeback was not just a decision but a rediscovery of passion that had been buried under exhaustion after the weight disqualification and the long Olympic journey.
She also shared, "In that silence, I found something I'd forgotten 'the fire never left'. It was only buried under exhaustion and noise. The discipline, the routine, the fight... it's in my system. No matter how far I walked away, a part of me stayed on the mat." These words reflected the emotional strength behind her wrestling comeback and her desire to pursue her Olympic dream at LA28 after recovering from the Paris Olympics controversy.
Vinesh Phogat then declared, "So here I am, stepping back toward LA28 with a heart that's unafraid and a spirit that refuses to bow." Her return has placed her among elite Indian athletes who have resumed competition after childbirth. Vinesh, who is married to wrestler Somvir Rathee , welcomed a baby boy in July 2025. This new phase of life has added extra motivation to her Olympic journey and strengthened her determination.
Sharing this joy, she added, "And this time, I'm not walking alone. My son is joining my team, my biggest motivation, my little cheerleader on this road to the LA Olympics." For Vinesh Phogat, motherhood has now become part of her wrestling comeback story, blending personal responsibility with her goal of keeping her Olympic dream alive after the Paris Olympics controversy.
Her break from wrestling was necessary to mentally distance herself from what many consider one of the most heartbreaking chapters in Indian wrestling. Vinesh Phogat has faced a long history of Olympic setbacks. In 2016, she suffered a serious knee injury during the quarterfinals, forcing her to withdraw from her debut Games. In 2021, at the Tokyo Olympics, she entered as the top-ranked wrestler in her category but suffered a shock quarterfinal defeat. These disappointments shaped her Olympic journey long before the Paris Olympics controversy.
At the Paris Games, it finally looked like the curse had lifted. Vinesh Phogat stormed into the women’s 50kg final after defeating defending Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan, former European champion Oksana Livach of Ukraine and Pan American Games champion Yusneylis Guzman . Her performance revived hope in Indian wrestling and brought her Olympic dream within reach. But the weight disqualification on the morning of the final sent shockwaves through India and the global wrestling community.
The incident raised serious questions about her weight-cut process and the management of last-minute protocols. Vinesh Phogat later filed an appeal with United World Wrestling, arguing procedural lapses and asking for reinstatement. However, UWW rejected the appeal, confirming her disqualification and extending the heartbreak surrounding the Paris Olympics controversy.
Unwilling to give up her Olympic dream, Vinesh Phogat took her fight to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The CAS appeal kept her and her supporters in weeks of uncertainty as she claimed procedural missteps during the weigh-in. Despite examining her claims carefully, the CAS upheld the UWW decision, ending her hopes of competing in the Paris final. The ruling intensified the emotional toll of her Olympic journey.
The aftermath was devastating. Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement soon after, calling the episode the most heartbreaking moment of her wrestling career. The Paris Olympics controversy sparked nationwide debate about athlete support, weigh-in systems and accountability within Indian wrestling administration. Over the following months, she stepped away from the sport to rebuild mentally and physically, eventually leading her to rediscover her passion and announce her wrestling comeback.
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