Vinesh Phogat May Reconsider Her Retirement, Hints Husband Somvir Rathee As Wrestler Returns India To Grand Welcome

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In a surprising turn of events, Vinesh Phogat's husband, Somvir Rathee, has hinted that the wrestling champion might reconsider her decision to retire from the sport.

Following her disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024 due to being 100 grams overweight on the morning of the gold medal bout, Vinesh's future in wrestling has been uncertain as she announced retirement soon after.

Somvir shared that while the disappointment is profound, the overwhelming support from fans and fellow athletes may influence Vinesh's ultimate decision. Somvir acknowledged that Vinesh's retirement came as a shock to many, but he emphasized that a final decision on her future has not yet been made.

"We had hoped to get the joint silver medal. We tried and fought till the end. All Indian athletes are standing with Vinesh today. We never thought that she will retire from wrestling this way. She will make a decision on her future later, we are leaving it on time," Somvir Rathee told myKhel.

Somvir opened up about the challenges they faced in trying to reduce Vinesh's weight within 12 hours after her semi-final bout, where she was found to be 2.7 kg over the limit.

"We had 12 hours to reduce her weight. We tried our best and gave 200%. We would like to seek an apology from the whole country. We would've won a medal, be it gold or silver, but we missed on it," Somvir told myKhel.

He also expressed gratitude for the support Vinesh received upon her return to India. "When we were in Paris, we found it tough. As soon as we arrived in India, we were touched to see the support open-heartedly. We are very happy to see this support and people are standing behind us," he added.

On Saturday, August 17, Vinesh Phogat arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, where she was welcomed by fellow wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia. The emotional moment, marked by the overwhelming support from fans, brought Vinesh to tears, showing the deep connection she shares with the nation.