Sixteen months after a heartbreaking disqualification at the Paris Olympics final led her to announce her retirement, Vinesh Phogat has confirmed her return to the wrestling mat. The 31-year-old, who faced a crushing exit in Paris after being found 100 grams overweight ahead of her 50kg final, stated on Friday that she is resuming training with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics in her sights.
"I don’t think I am over it yet," Vinesh told The Indian Express, referring to the Paris incident. "But I didn’t want it to be my end." She added in a social media post that "the fire never left" and was merely buried under exhaustion, declaring she is stepping back toward LA ’28 "with a heart that’s unafraid and a spirit that refuses to bow."
The three-time Olympian, who recently became an MLA from the Julana constituency in Haryana, cited her four-month-old son, Kridhav, as her primary motivation. Vinesh, who welcomed her son in July, envisions a future where he watches her triumph on the global stage. "It’ll be an amazing feeling if my son, who will be three by the time of the LA Olympics, can watch me play at a big tournament and watch me win," she said.
She expressed a desire to be a personal example of resilience for him, rather than relying on stories of others. "I imagine a scenario where, if I’m there at the 2028 Olympics, he’ll turn to me and say, ‘Arey mummy, kuch toh kar lo yaar!’ (Mom, come on, do something)."
Vinesh faces a rigorous path ahead, acknowledging the challenges of returning to full fitness and navigating domestic selection trials against rising young talent. While she competed in the 50kg category in Paris; a weight cut that proved disastrous, she is likely to move up to the 53kg or 57kg weight class for her return in 2026.
The upcoming year is packed with major events, including the Asian Championships in April, the Asian Games in September, and the World Championships in October. "The path to Paris wasn’t straightforward either," she noted, emphasizing her focus on getting back to the "daily grind" of the sport she calls her "safe space."
Her return has been welcomed by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), despite her prominent role in the 2023 protests against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations. Current WFI president Sanjay Singh assured that there would be no discrimination. "She is welcome to compete again," Sanjay Singh told The Indian Express.
"As long as the rules and selection criteria of the federation are followed, everyone is welcome." The announcement comes as the National Championships get underway in Naranpura, coincidentally at a venue displaying portraits of Brij Bhushan, who remains a polarizing figure in Indian wrestling.
While the wrestling fraternity has largely welcomed the news, the decision has drawn mixed reactions in her political constituency of Julana. Locals have claimed she has been inactive since her election victory, missing public events and failing to raise issues in the assembly.
However, Vinesh remains steadfast, driven by a desire to avoid future regrets. "People say it’s tough after having a baby... But if you have the will, it can be done," she said. "I didn’t want to go out like that... instead of telling him stories about someone else, I will tell him, ‘I did this!’"
