Vinesh Phogat disqualified from Paris Olympics ahead of gold medal wrestling bout

Vinesh Phogat Olympics 2024: In a unfortunate event for India at Olympics, wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified on Wednesday from the 50kg freestyle wrestling for being overweight by a few grams, after she qualified for gold medal bout.

Vinesh Phogat had beaten World No.1 and Tokyo 2020 champion Yui Susaki of Japan to qualify for quarterfinals.

Later in the quarter-finals, Vinesh took on Ukraine's Oksana Livach and beat her by 7-5 to secure a semi-final berth. In the penultimate bout she went on to beat Cuba's Yusneylis Guzman Lopez to secure a medal and become the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the final at the Olympics.


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"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 Olympic Association (IOA) said ahead of Phogat's gold medal match scheduled for tonight.

"The Indian team requests you respect Vinesh’s privacy. It would like to focus on the competitions on hand," the Indian governing body further said.

This situation is not new for Phogat, who usually competes in the 53 kg category. She faced a similar challenge during the Olympic qualifiers, narrowly making the cut.

The Indian government is in touch with IOA President PT USha to explore possibilities in Vinesh's case.

PM Narendra Modi spoke to Usha and has sought first-hand information from her on the issue and the options India has in the wake of Vinesh's setback, as per ANI sources.

Modi has asked her to explore the full range of options to help Vinesh’s case. He also urged PT Usha to file a strong protest regarding her disqualification if that helps Vinesh.

Also Read: Why Vinesh Phogat disqualified from 2024 Olympics?

According to competition rules, she will not be eligible for a silver medal, leaving only gold and bronze winners in the 50 kg category.

A PTI report which quoted an Indian coach said that Phogat was found overweight by 100gm this morning.

As per reports, Phogat spent the last night jogging and skipping to shed the last extra grams but failed to do so.

India has so far three bronze medals in its kitty and Phogat's assured medal was a hope for a silver or a gold.

Vinesh Phogat's journey from Protests to Podium falls short

Vinesh Phogat, known for her stubborn determination, overcame significant adversity to become India's first woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final. But Wednesday morning's news of her disqualification has left her short of the podium, once again.

She navigated an injury-prone journey marked by hip tendonitis and a knee surgery after an ACL tear in 2016. Despite these physical setbacks, she dropped to the 50kg weight class, undergoing intense trials to secure her spot.

In 2023, Vinesh led protests against the Wrestling Federation of India's chief for alleged sexual harassment, facing police detention and a smear campaign.

Undeterred, she leveraged her struggles to fuel her determination. At the Paris Olympics, Vinesh stunned reigning Olympic champion Yui Susaki and secured a semifinal berth by defeating Oksana Livach of Ukraine. Her journey from facing societal opposition in her village to overcoming federation politics is a testament to her indomitable spirit.

This tenacity which had culminated in a historic Olympic medal until now, marking a pinnacle in the wrestler's decorated career, has took shape of a massive heartbreak.