Chandigarh: Olympian wrestler and Congress MLA Vinesh Phogat has decided to withdraw her retirement and return to competitive wrestling, with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as her target. She shared the decision in a social media post on Friday.
Vinesh had announced her retirement after a dramatic exit from the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she became the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final. However, she was disqualified before the gold medal bout after being found overweight by over 100 grams during the weigh-in.
In her post, Vinesh said people repeatedly asked whether Paris was the end of her journey. “I didn’t have an answer for a long time. I needed to get away from the mat, the pressure, the expectations and even my dreams. For the first time in years, I let myself breathe,” she said.
She said the break helped her reflect on the highs and lows of her career, including heartbreaks and sacrifices. “Somewhere in that reflection I found the truth. I still love this game. I still want to compete,” she said.
Vinesh said the fire to fight had never faded. “Fire never dies. It was just buried beneath the fatigue and noise. Discipline, routine, fighting — it’s all in my system. No matter how far I walk, a part of me stays on the mat,” she wrote.
Announcing her comeback, Vinesh said she is now stepping back towards LA28 with renewed determination. She added that this time she would not be walking alone, as her son would be her biggest inspiration and “little cheerleader” on the road to the Los Angeles Olympics.
Vinesh is currently the Congress MLA from Julana in Haryana.
