Vinesh Phogat Returns to Chase LA28 Olympic Dream
Vinesh Phogat Returns to Chase LA28 Olympic Dream
India's wrestling star Vinesh Phogat announces a comeback toward LA28, saying the fire still burns and her son will be her biggest motivation on the road back to Olympic glory.
Vinesh Phogat, India's star wrestler and a two-time world championships medallist, is making a comeback with a clear target: the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. In a candid message shared on social media, she said the fire is still burning and that she will step onto the mat with a heart that’s unafraid and a spirit that refuses to bow. She also revealed that her son will join her on this journey, serving as her biggest motivation.
Phogat's road has been rocky. She announced retirement following a Paris Olympics final where she was disqualified after weigh-in showed overweight, leaving her with no medal in her third Games. Earlier, she had celebrated a dramatic win over Tokyo champion Yui Susaki in the 50kg class just before that final. Since then, she pressed pause on competitive wrestling and even took her case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, challenging the disqualification.
Now, at 31, she says she allowed herself to breathe, reflect on the highs and heartbreaks, and found the truth: she still loves the sport and wants to compete. She frames the LA28 pursuit as a renewed chapter, with her son as a constant source of energy and accountability, guiding her through the return to training and competition.
Phogat's comeback arrives amid a period of activism and change in Indian wrestling, where she and fellow athletes have spoken out on governance and conditions, but her personal focus remains on the mat and the dream of Olympic glory in Los Angeles.
Her journey underscores resilience and the enduring appeal of sport as a path to personal redemption and national pride.
Cover image source: Vinesh Phogat announces return to wrestling, a year after Paris Olympics disqualification 🔗
