Vinesh Phogat has decided to return to wrestling after earlier announcing her retirement.
The 31-year-old had quit the sport after the painful incident at the Paris Olympics, where she reached the final but was disqualified for being just 100 grams over the weight limit. She had been close to becoming the first Indian woman to wrestle in an Olympic final.
During her 18-month break, Vinesh took time to reflect on her journey. She also became an MLA after winning the Julana seat in Haryana.
In July 2025, she gave birth to a baby boy, and she says he will now be her biggest motivation as she aims for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Vinesh said she needed time away to breathe and understand everything she had gone through: the setbacks, the sacrifices, and the pressure. But she realized she still loves the sport and still has the fire to compete.
Her Olympic journey has been tough. She was injured at the 2016 Games, suffered an early exit in Tokyo 2021, and faced heartbreak again in Paris after her disqualification.
She even appealed the decision to UWW and later to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but both appeals were rejected.
The Paris incident left her shattered, and she announced her retirement soon after.
Now, after months of healing, she feels ready to start again, with her son by her side, as she begins her new journey towards the LA 2028 Olympics.