Vinesh Phogat Announces Emotional Comeback, Eyes Olympic Glory at LA 2028

India’s champion wrestler reverses retirement, declaring her “fire never left” as she sets sights on Los Angeles Olympics with her son as inspiration.

In an emotional announcement that has captivated the nation, India’s trailblazing wrestler Vinesh Phogat has officially ended her 18-month retirement, declaring her intent to compete at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The 31-year-old, who became a mother in July 2025, revealed her decision through a powerful social media post, stating her enduring love for the sport and naming her son as her “biggest motivation” for the journey ahead.

A Journey of Reflection and Rediscovery

Phogat’s retirement came after one of the most heartbreaking episodes in Indian sporting history at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Having made history as the first Indian woman wrestler to qualify for an Olympic final, her dream was shattered when she was disqualified from the gold-medal bout for being just 100 grams over the weight limit.

“For the first time in years, I allowed myself to breathe,” Phogat wrote about her time away from wrestling. “I took time to understand the weight of my journey — the highs, the heartbreaks, the sacrifices, the versions of me the world never saw. And somewhere in that reflection, I found the truth: I still love this sport. I still want to compete“.

She described discovering that the competitive fire within her “was only buried under exhaustion and noise”.

The Heartbreak That Preceded the Comeback

The Paris controversy remains a painful chapter in Phogat’s career. After defeating defending Olympic champion Yui Susaki of Japan, former European champion Oksana Livach of Ukraine, and reigning Pan American Games champion Yusneylis Guzman of Cuba to reach the final, Phogat was disqualified during the mandatory morning weigh-in for the 50kg category.

Her team had worked through the night trying to help her cut weight, with reports indicating she was in visible pain and exhaustion. Despite appeals to both United World Wrestling and the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the disqualification stood.

The emotional toll led Phogat to announce her retirement shortly after the Games, writing in Hindi: “Wrestling won over me, I lost. Forgive me, your dream and my courage has been broken”.

A New Chapter: Motherhood as Motivation

Phogat’s 18-month break has been marked by significant personal milestones. The Olympian, who won the Julana Assembly seat in Haryana in 2024, welcomed a baby boy in July 2025. This new chapter has provided fresh perspective and a powerful source of inspiration for her return.

“This time, I’m not walking alone,” Phogat declared. “My son is joining my team, my biggest motivation, my little cheerleader on this road to the LA Olympics”.

Her comeback places her among elite Indian athletes who have returned to top-level competition after childbirth, adding another layer to her already remarkable story of resilience.

A Career Defined by Triumph and Tribulation

Vinesh Phogat’s career has been a rollercoaster of extraordinary achievement and heartbreaking setbacks:

Olympic History: A knee injury forced withdrawal at Rio 2016; a shock quarterfinal exit at Tokyo 2020 despite being world number one; and the Paris disqualification after reaching the final.

Major Accomplishments: Three-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist (2014, 2018, 2022), Asian Games champion (2018), and two-time World Championships bronze medalist.

Advocacy: She was a prominent face in the wrestlers’ protest against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, fighting for women’s safety and dignity in sports.

The Road to LA 2028

With her comeback officially underway, Phogat now sets her sights on the Los Angeles Olympics four years from now. Her statement concluded with a declaration of renewed determination: “So here I am, stepping back toward LA28 with a heart that’s unafraid and a spirit that refuses to bow”.

The wrestling community and fans across India have welcomed her decision. Following the Paris disappointment, Phogat received overwhelming public support, including a symbolic gold medal honor from the Sarvakhap Panchayat in Haryana, which she described as “above any medal”. Fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia had told her then, “You did not lose, you were made to lose. For us, you will always be a winner”.

As Vinesh Phogat returns to the mat, her journey transforms from a story of heartbreaking loss to one of inspirational redemption — a champion refusing to let circumstance define her legacy, now fighting not just for personal glory, but as a mother showing her son the power of an unbroken spirit.