Hours after wrestler Vinesh Phogat brought a smile on millions of fans' faces with her historic run in women's 50 kg freestyle event at Paris Olympics 2024, she has been disqualified for not being able to make the weight on the morning of gold medal bout.
According to sources, Vinesh was found roughly 100 grams over the permissible limits. As per the rules of the competition, she will not even get silver medal despite making it to the final. Her semifinal opponent, Cuba's Yusneylys Guzman will take her place in the final.
After defeating Cuba's Yusneylys, she was overweight by approximately two kgs on August 6 night. In order to get her weight down to the permissible limit, she jogged, cycled but failed to meet the criteria.
“It is with regret that the Indian contingent shares news of the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the Women’s Wrestling 50kg class. Despite the best efforts by the team through the night, she weighed in a few grams over 50kg this morning. No further comments will be made by the contingent at this time. The Indian team requests you respect Vinesh’s privacy. It would like to focus on the competitions on hand,” the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said in a statement.
After Vinesh was found overweight by 100 grams, the Indian delegation requested to give Vinesh a chance to get rid of the extra weight. However, their request was not considered.
Big blow to India's medal hopes
On August 6, Vinesh created history by beating Japan's Yui Susaki who had not lost a single bout on the international stage. The 29-year-old became the first woman Indian wrestler to qualify for the final at the Olympics. India were assured of a medal but the Indian contingent's hopes of adding a medal were shattered as Vinesh faced disqualification.
Vinesh was set to face USA's Sarah Ann Hildebrandt who she had beaten twice on the international stage. Like Vinesh, she used to fight in 53kg category as well. They went up against each other in 2019 twice in Dan Kolov and Nikola Petrov competition and World Championships.
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