Champion to Convince Cousin Vinesh Phogat to Reconsider Retirement

Babita Phogat, Commonwealth Games gold medallist, urges her cousin Vinesh Phogat to reconsider her decision to retire from wrestling after being disqualified for being overweight by 100 grams in the 50kg category at the Paris Olympics. Babita hopes Vinesh will aim for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Babita Phogat has urged her cousin, Vinesh Phogat, to reconsider her retirement from wrestling. The plea follows Vinesh's disqualification ahead of her gold medal match in the 50kg category at the Paris Olympics due to a 100 grams weight overage.

Vinesh, competing in her third Olympics, was disqualified and declared ineligible for a medal after failing to make the weight. This turn of events shattered her Olympic dream and led the 29-year-old to announce her retirement from international wrestling.

Babita recounted her own experience with weight disqualification and highlighted that many wrestlers have faced similar issues due to strict weight rules. She expressed her hope that Vinesh will train for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics to fulfill her family's dreams.

During last year's wrestlers' protest at Jantar Mantar, Vinesh accused Babita, a BJP leader, of weakening their movement against then Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.