Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Wednesday, announced retirement after her heartbreaking disqualification from the Olympics, saying she doesn't have the strength to continue.
The 29-year-old, who was disqualified for being 100 gm overweight ahead of her 50 kg category gold medal bout, posted on X to announce her decision.
माँ कुश्ती मेरे से जीत गई मैं हार गई माफ़ करना आपका सपना मेरी हिम्मत सब टूट चुके इससे ज़्यादा ताक़त नहीं रही अब।
— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) August 7, 2024
अलविदा कुश्ती 2001-2024 🙏
आप सबकी हमेशा ऋणी रहूँगी माफी 🙏🙏
She wrote, "माँ कुश्ती मेरे से जीत गई मैं हार गई माफ़ करना आपका सपना मेरी हिम्मत सब टूट चुके इससे ज़्यादा ताक़त नहीं रही अब। (Ma, wrestling has won, I have lost. Please forgive me, your dreams and my courage, everything is broken.)"
"अलविदा कुश्ती 2001-2024 आप सबकी हमेशा ऋणी रहूँगी माफी (I don't have any more strength now. Goodbye wrestling 2001-2024. I shall be indebted to you all. Forgive me)."
The female wrestler's disqualification led to Jordan Burroughs who is a former Olympic gold medal-winning wrestler, proposing changes for United World Wrestling (UWW).
Burroughs is a wrestler who had won the 2012 Olympic gold medal and is a six-time world champion.
The 36-year-old freestyle wrestler who expressed his disappointment over Phogat being deprived of a medal and suggested some UWW rules to be changed.
Proposed Immediate Rule Changes for UWW:
— Jordan Burroughs (@alliseeisgold) August 7, 2024
1.) 1kg second Day Weight Allowance.
2.) Weigh-ins pushed from 8:30am to 10:30am.
3.) Forfeit will occur in future finals if opposing finalist misses weight.
4.) After a semifinal victory, both finalists’ medals are secured even if…
Taking to X he wrote, "Proposed Immediate Rule Changes for UWW: 1.) 1kg second Day Weight Allowance. 2.) Weigh-ins pushed from 8:30am to 10:30am. 3.) Forfeit will occur in future finals if opposing finalist misses weight. 4.) After a semifinal victory, both finalists’ medals are secured even if weight is missed on Day 2. Gold can only be won by a wrestler who makes weight on the second day. 5.) Give Vinesh the Silver medal."
His first suggestion was weight allowance of 1 kg for wrestlers who perform at events for consecutive days.
His second suggestion was to check the weigh-ins for participants between 8.30 am and 10.30 am which would help out the competing wrestlers to lose out the excess weight on a prior basis.
Burroughs proposed a fourth and final change saying that both finalists after a semi-final victory should be guaranteed a medal without considering the fact that whether both the competitors make their weight or not.
GIVE VINESH SILVER! 🥈
— Jordan Burroughs (@alliseeisgold) August 7, 2024
He shared another post on X saying, "GIVE VINESH SILVER!"
Former Indian wrestler Sakshee Malikkh also appealed that giving Phogat a silver medal would be the right decision.
This would be the right decision if they accept it. I too appeal 🙏 @Phogat_Vinesh https://t.co/Glojf8rOId
— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) August 7, 2024
She wrote, "This would be the right decision if they accept it. I too appeal @Phogat_Vinesh."