THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, Dec 12: Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat announced on Friday that she is returning to professional wrestling after an 18-month break, putting her retirement behind her as she aims for the LA 2028 Olympics.
The announcement comes nearly 18 months after she stepped away from the sport following a heartbreaking disqualification in the 50 kg freestyle final at the Paris Olympics.
Phogat had reached the gold medal bout by defeating Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 5-0 in the semi-finals, but was disqualified for exceeding the weight limit ahead of her match against the United States’ Sarah Ann Hildebrandt.
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In her post on X, she reflected on the period away from the mat, writing, “For a long time, I didn’t have the answer. I needed to step away from the mat, from the pressure, from the expectations… For the first time in years, I allowed myself to breathe.”
— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) December 12, 2025
She added, “I still love this sport. I still want to compete… the fire never left. It was only buried under exhaustion and noise.”
Vinesh, who became a mother in July 2025, shared that her son has now become her “biggest motivation, my little cheerleader on this road to the LA Olympics.” Married to fellow wrestler Somvir Rathee, she joins the ranks of elite Indian athletes returning to competition after childbirth.
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Over her illustrious career, Phogat has won two World Championship bronze medals (2019, 2022), three Commonwealth Games golds (2014, 2018, 2022), an Asian Games gold (2018) and bronze (2014), and a gold medal at the 2021 Asian Championships.
She has also claimed silver and bronze at continental-level competitions, cementing her status as one of India’s premier wrestlers.
