Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat suffered a heartbreaking disqualification from the Paris Olympics gold medal match in the 50kg category on August 7, Wednesday. After a stellar performance that secured her place in the final, Phogat was unable to meet the weight requirements at the weigh-in the following day. This shocking turn of events denied India its first-ever female Olympic gold medalist in wrestling.
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IOA chief PT Usha reacts to Vinesh Phogat's Olympic disqualification
Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha expressed deep disappointment over the disqualification. She confirmed that the IOA has lodged an appeal with the United World Wrestling in hopes of overturning the decision.
“Vinesh's disqualification is very shocking. I met Vinesh at the Olympic village polyclinic a short while ago and assured her complete support of the Indian Olympic Association, the Government of India and the whole country,” PT Usha said in a video message.
“We are providing Vinesh with all medical and emotional support. The Wrestling Federation Of India has filed an appeal to UWW to consider the decision to disqualify Vinesh and it is following this up in the strongest possible manner. I am aware of the relentless effort made by Vinesh's medical team throughout the night so that she could meet the competition requirements,” she added.
How Vinesh Phogat was disqualified?
Vinesh Phogat's disqualification stems from her inability to maintain the required weight for her category. While she initially qualified for Tuesday's matches, the regulations stipulated that wrestlers must remain within their weight class for both days of competition. Unfortunately, Phogat was found to be two kilograms overweight on Tuesday night.
Despite strenuous efforts to shed the extra weight, including rigorous exercise, Phogat fell short by a mere 100 grams. The Indian delegation's plea for additional time was unfortunately rejected. This setback is particularly disheartening for Phogat, who typically competes in the 53 kg category and has faced similar weight-related challenges in the past.
A Heartbreaking End to a Promising Campaign
Vinesh Phogat's journey at the Paris Olympics took a devastating turn. After securing a historic spot in the gold medal match with impressive wins over top-ranked opponents, she was cruelly denied the opportunity to compete due to a weight issue. The gold medal will now be awarded to Sarah Hildebrandt, a wrestler Phogat had previously defeated. This marks a particularly cruel chapter in Phogat's Olympic career. Following a serious injury at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and a quarter-final exit at Tokyo 2020, this latest setback is a crushing blow for the talented wrestler.
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