India’s trailblazing wrestler Vinesh Phogat has officially restarted her Olympic journey, announcing her return to competitive wrestling on Friday after an 18-month retirement. The 31-year-old said the “fire never left,” confirming that she will now focus on her bid for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

Vinesh, who stepped away from the sport following the controversy at the Paris Games, shared an emotional statement on Instagram to explain her decision. She had been disqualified just hours before the Paris 2024 final for being 100 grams overweight despite reaching the gold-medal bout — denying her a chance to become the first Indian woman to contest an Olympic wrestling final.

“For the first time in years, I allowed myself to breathe,” she wrote, noting that time away from the mat helped her confront the highs and heartbreaks of her career. “Somewhere in that reflection, I found the truth — I still love this sport. I still want to compete.”

Her comeback also aligns with a new phase in her personal life. After winning the Julana Assembly seat in 2024 and going on maternity leave, Vinesh welcomed a baby boy in July 2025. She said he is now her “biggest motivation,” adding, “My son is joining my team — my little cheerleader on this road to the LA Olympics.”

Vinesh’s Olympic journey has been marked by dramatic turns — a forced withdrawal due to injury in Rio 2016, an unexpected early exit at Tokyo 2021 despite being world No. 1, and the heartbreaking disqualification in Paris after defeating three continental champions on her way to the final. Her appeals to UWW and later to the Court of Arbitration for Sport could not overturn the decision.

The emotional toll eventually pushed her into retirement, but Friday’s announcement marks a fresh beginning. With her return, Vinesh Phogat joins the growing list of elite Indian athletes who have come back stronger after motherhood, reigniting hope ahead of the 2028 Games.

TOPICS: Top Stories