Vinesh Phogat breaks her silence on Olympic disqualification with Instagram post

Vinesh Phogat, a 29-year-old wrestler, had her appeal for a joint-silver medal in the Paris 2024 Olympics turned down by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). Phogat was disqualified from the event after being found 100 grams overweight before her women's 50kg gold-medal bout against the USA's Sarah Hildebrandt. Following her disqualification, Vinesh shared a photo of herself lying on the mat, hands on her forehead, reflecting her disappointment.

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A post shared by Vinesh Phogat (@vineshphogat)

Earlier in the competition, Phogat had defeated Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez in the semi-final, becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the final of an Olympic wrestling event. She was on track to become only the second Indian female wrestler to win an Olympic medal after Sakshi Malik. However, her disqualification changed the course of the finals.


"After Vinesh was disqualified, the Cuban replaced her as the other finalist. It eventually was Hildebrandt who ended up winning gold."

According to the United World Wrestling (UWW) rules, Vinesh finished last due to her disqualification. Despite hopes being high after her earlier victories, her journey in the Olympics ended on a disappointing note.

Vinesh Phogat started her Olympic campaign on a high note by defeating Japan's Yui Susaki in the opening round. Susaki had an 82-0 unbeaten record, making Phogat’s victory one of the greatest upsets in Olympic wrestling history. This win elevated expectations that Phogat would finally secure her long-awaited Olympic medal.

"With this win, it seemed that Vinesh Phogat’s long wait for an Olympic medal would finally come to an end."

Her victories led her to advance confidently through her bouts, securing a position in the gold medal match. Unfortunately, her dreams were dashed due to the weight rule violation.

"Despite appeals to CAS, fortune did not favor Vinesh."

In 2016, Phogat's campaign in Rio ended due to a knee injury, which led to her early exit despite being a top seed. Her recent disqualification in Paris added another chapter of misfortune in her Olympic journey.

"Just when it seemed that she would finish on the podium, luck eluded her."

Phogat's story is a mix of triumph and heartbreak, reflecting the unpredictable nature of sports. Her journey continues to inspire many despite the setbacks she has faced.