STILL WORTH HER WEIGHT IN GOLD

Ma, wrestling has won, I have lost, says Vinesh as she announces her retirement from the sport

- Haridev Pushparaj

She came, she wrestled and she conquered our hearts. And then, she called it quits. That's been the story of Vinesh Phogat, who will go down in the annals of Indian wrestling as one of its most storied Olympians to not win a medal.

Unless, the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which has been petitioned in the matter, feels other wise and yields to her plea for a joint silver medal because she had earned it with a proper weigh-in on Tuesday. The CAS has said that it will deliberate on the matter on Friday.

Vinesh announced her retirement from wrestling in a post addressed to her mother Premlata on X, after having gone through the most excruciating 24 hours at the Paris Olympics, where she was disqualified from the 50kg event on Wednesday for tipping the scales by 100 grams.

In a heartfelt post. Vinesh announced her retirement with an emotional outpouring: "Ma, wrestling has won, I have lost. Please forgive me, your dreams and my courage, everything is broken.

"I don't have any more strength now.

Goodbye wrestling 2001-2024. I shall be indebted to you all. Forgive (me)," said the two-time world championship bronzemedallist.