Vinesh Phogat, the Indian female wrestler, suffered a huge heartbreak ahead of her gold medal match in freestyle wrestling at the Paris Olympics 2024 on August 7, 2024. Phogat, who had defeated the undefeated Yui Susaki of Japan to make it into the finals, was disqualified before the title match.
Phogat was scheduled to clash with USA's Sarah Hildebrandt for the gold medal. However, ahead of the bout, Phogat was found overweight on the second day of the competition and as a result, was disqualified from the Paris Olympics.
The statement by the Indian Olympic Association says: "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."
"She was found overweight by 100gm this morning (Wednesday). The rules do not allow this and she has been disqualified," said an Indian coach.
According to The Indian Express, Vinesh met the weight criteria for her bouts on Tuesday, but the rules require athletes to weigh in their weight category on both days of the event.
According to the article, Vinesh was 2kg overweight on Tuesday night and worked out nearly all night in the hopes of meeting the weight criteria for her final. But that did not happen, and the Indian delegation's efforts to give Vinesh more time to shed the extra 100 gm were denied.
"Vinesh failed the second day weigh-in. According to article 11 of the International Wrestling Rules, Vinesh (IND) will be replaced by the wrestler who lost against her in the Semifinal. Therefore Yusneylis Guzman Lopez (CUB) will compete in the Final. Repechage Yui Susaki (Japan) vs Oksana Livach (Ukraine) will become a bronze medal match," the Paris Games organizing committee said in a statement.
Vinesh will now end up last in the standings in the 50kg event at the Paris Games. She is also receiving medical care in Paris after her intense efforts to lose weight in a short time led to her getting dehydrated.
The Indian cricket fraternity was left distraught at the news of Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification and took to social media to share their emotions.
Here are the posts:
