Phogat is ‘tired of this system, tired of fighting’: Shashi Tharoor
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New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday said that the wrestler Vinesh Phogat is ‘tired of fighting’.
Thiruvananthapuram MP was responding to the wrestler’s poignant exit from the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.
Taking to platform X, Tharoor said in Hindi Vinesh Phogat is ‘tired of this system... This girl is tired of fighting.’
Hours after her disqualification from Olympics, Phogat announced her retirement from wrestling.
"Wrestling won the match against me, I lost... My courage is all broken, I don't have any strength now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024. I will forever be in your debt," she wrote in Hindi on X.
It came as a shock to most Indians when Phogat was disqualified from wrestling for being 100 gram overweight.
She was to fight the US' Sarah Ann Hildebrandt in the historic 50-kg freestyle gold medal match when she was showed the door.
On Tuesday night she made history by becoming the first Indian wrestler ever to make it to the gold medal bout in her category.
Sports enthusiasts were certain of her bringing home at least a silver medal.
The 29-year-old, who usually competed in the 53 kg category, switched to the 50 kg weight class for the Paris Olympic Games.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called her "a champion among champions" urging her to "come back stronger".
PM Modi posted on X: "Today's setback hurts. I wish words could express the sense of despair I am experiencing. At the same time... you epitomise resilience. It has always been your nature to take challenges head-on. We are rooting for you."
It is reported that Phogat will file an appeal in the Court of Arbitration for Sport(CAS) against disqualification.
The three-time Olympian has demanded a joint Olympic silver with Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez.