Indian wrestler, Vinesh Phogat has announced her retirement after her disappointing disqualification from the Paris Olympics on Wednesday hours ahead of the gold medal match. The 29-year-old was declared ineligible for any medals after she was found to be 100 grams over her 50 kg weight category.

In a post on X, Phogat said: “Mother wrestling beat me, I lost. Your dream and my courage are all broken. I don’t have any more strength now. Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024”.

Earlier on Wednesday, President of Indian Olympic Association, Dr PT Usha expressed her shock and disappointment at the disqualification. In a statement, the IOA chief said that she met with the wrestler and assured her of complete support of the Indian Olympic Association, Government of India and the whole country.

She also informed that the Wrestling Federation of India has filed an appeal to United World Wrestling (UWW) to reconsider the decision to disqualify Vinesh Phogat and that IOA is following that up in the strongest possible manner.

Further, PT Usha also said that she was “aware of the relentless efforts made by Vinesh, medical team, led by Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala and the Chef-de-Mission Gagan Narang through the night to ensure that she could meet the competition requirements.”

Read more: Vinesh Phogat disqualified ahead of Gold Medal match; ‘Come back stronger”, says PM Modi

Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala clarified that wrestlers usually participate in a weight category less than their natural weight as it gives them an advantage since they are fighting with less stronger opponents.

He explained that the process of weight cut involves a calculated restriction of food and water along with sweating from exercises and sauna till the morning weigh-in. This weight cut causes weakness and energy depletion, which is counter-productive to participation, and hence, for energy restoration, limited water and high energy foods are given after weigh-in, he added. The CMO informed that Vinesh’s nutritionist had calculated this to be 1.5 kg and that sometimes there is also a rebound weight gain following competition.

Dr Pardiwala stated that Vinesh Phogat had three bouts, and hence, small amounts of water had to be given to prevent dehydration but her post participation weight was found to be increased so the coach initiated the normal process of weight cut that he has always employed with Vinesh and felt confident that it would be achieved. However, she was found to be 100 grams over her 50 kg weight category, and hence, she was disqualified.

All possible drastic measures, including cutting off her hair, were used. However, she was not below her allowed weight of 50 kg, the CMO added.