In a big blow to India's medal prospects at next month's Asian Games in China, the country's top female wrestler Vinesh Phogat pulled out of the prestigious continental event, citing a knee injury on Tuesday.
"I will be undergoing surgery on 17th August in Mumbai. It was my dream to retain my Asian Games Gold medal for India which I won in 2018 at Jakarta. But unfortunately, this injury has ruled out my participation now," she wrote on Twitter, now X.
"I would like to request all the fans to continue supporting me so that I can make a strong comeback on the mat soon and prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Your support gives me a lot of strength, she added.
Why is Phogat's Absence a Blow to India's Medal Hopes?
Phogat's withdrawal from the Asiad is a huge setback for India, considering she made history in the 2018 edition of the quadrennial competition held in Jakarta.
Five years ago, in the Indonesian capital, Phogat became the first woman grappler from India to claim the gold medal in the Asian Games.
The development comes at a time when Phogat has grabbed headlines for becoming the face of the protests against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
A group of India's top wrestlers, including Phogat and Olympic medalist Bajrang Punia have accused Singh of sexually abusing players during official tournaments and training camps.
The Delhi Police is currently probing the case on the directives of the Supreme Court of India. Singh, however, was yet to be arrested.