Recently retired Indian professional wrestler Vinesh Phogat competed for the gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics for the 50kg category. Despite her rigorous training and display of undeniable skill, Vinesh not only suffered defeat but was also disqualified from the competition due to an untimely fluctuation in her weight, India Today reported. This cost her the opportunity to become the first Indian woman to score a gold medal at the Olympics, a gut-wrenching loss that did not fare well with her career.
Prior to the Olympics, the former wrestler had secured various victories, including multiple gold medals at the Commonwealth and Asian Games, as well as two bronze medals at the World Wrestling Champions. Due to the unfortunate defeat at the Olympics, however, the former wrestler recently announced her decision to retire from the sports overall. As heartbreaking as the decision is, Vinesh's successes are no less laudable than the history she tragically could not make.
Tied to a family of popular, international champions, her legacy was secured the moment she chose to make a name for herself in the wrestling scene. Who is the Phogat family? The Phogat family, a group of four sisters and two cousins, is the renowned bloodline of wrestlers raised by Indian wrestler and senior Olympics coach, Mahavir Singh Phogat. Being the father and uncle to six international champions, Mahavir has commendable experience on his hands in training his daughters and nieces to excel in a way that .