It will be challenging to find a woman athlete with a mightier heart and resolve than 29-year-old Vinesh Phogat in the annals of Indian women's sporting history. She faced several adverse circumstances that would have broken down even one's will. She proved that she is a fighter and competent in her sport, reaching the final of the 50 kg wrestling bout at the ongoing Paris Olympics.

Unfortunately for her and the country, she was disqualified on the morning of the bout for gold for being overweight by 100 grams. A day before the disqualification, on Tuesday, August 6, she had made history. She beat Japan's Yui Susaki, a four-time world champion who won gold in the last Olympics without losing a single point. And that too, within a year after her knee surgery. However, the surgery was not the biggest hurdle for Vinesh - it was in the Indian state.

That Vinesh is returning to India without a medal from the Paris Olympics is not of any great consequence. By now, she has already proved her mettle on and off the wrestling arena. After her disqualification before the gold medal bout, Vinesh declared in Paris that she had decided to retire from wrestling.

But at the same time, Vinesh declared with determination, "I am fighting for the future generation of wrestlers, not for myself. My career is done, and this is my last Olympics. I want to fight for the young women wrestlers who will come and fight for them so that they can wrestle safely. That is why I was in Jantar Mantar, and that is why I am here."

Following the disqualification, the feminist solidarity wrote to Vinesh: "Congratulations!! You have not lost. You are our hero and remain so. Yesterday in Paris, you showed what you really are. Your skill is unmatched, and there is no height that you can't scale. Please don't be disappointed by this 'disqualification.' We understand that it was not your responsibility to take care of your weight. There should be an investigation into where and by whom the mistake has been made. We express our protest against your disqualification and would like to not feel sad at this moment. You will keep flying high, do not lose hope. You are and will remain our hero. When you return from Paris, we will all meet once again at Jantar Mantar and celebrate your success. Winning a medal is not the measure of victory. The measure of success and victory is your determination and courage. Justice-loving feminist saathis of India and around the world will always be with you!"

Following Vinesh Phogat's disqualification, six-time World Championship gold medalist Jordan Burroughs demanded that the United World Wrestling (UWW) body change the rules governing wrestling at the Olympics and award Vinesh Phogat the Silver Medal. Jordan is also considered one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers of all time. However, Vinesh will now return empty-handed, as UWW rules nullify all previous results if a wrestler fails the weigh-in process at any stage.

On Thursday, Vinesh announced her decision to retire from wrestling, saying that she does not have the strength to continue. Addressing her mother, Premlata, Vinesh wrote in a post on X, "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)," she added.

Vinesh's experience with the Olympics has been painful, starting her debut in the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro. After suffering a career threatening anterior cruciate ligament tear in her quarterfinal bout she had to be stretchered out. She was 21 at that time and sobbed bitterly through that ordeal.

She worked hard and rebuilt herself over the next four years, making it to the Tokyo Games held during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, she seemed underprepared and was knocked out in the quarterfinal bout. Her build-up to the 2024 Paris 2024 Olympics was controversy-ridden and tumultuous. She was at the Jantar Mantar for over a month protesting against Brij Bhushan Saran, President of the Wrestling Federation of India for sexual misconduct and the government's inaction on the charges against him.

Vinesh Phogat used to fight in the 53 kg category. But that spot for the Paris Olympics went to Antim Ponghal. Vinesh was protesting at Jantar for the safety of women wrestlers and had to choose 50kg, leading to the 100-gram overweight heartbreak at the final bout for the gold medal.