Shillong, Aug 7: Vinesh Phogat’s hopes for an Olympic gold medal were dashed when she was disqualified from the women’s 50kg wrestling final at the Paris Olympics for being just over 100 grams above the weight limit before the final on Thursday morning.
Despite her and her team’s best efforts spending sleepless night without food or water to make the cut, including extreme measures like cutting her hair and attempting to draw out blood, she couldn’t make the weight cut.
Reportedly, she had weighted around 52 kg after the semifinals on Wednesday night. She spent the night trying to shed the extra weight and managed to bring it down to 50.1 kg, but she had no more time to lose any further weight. At the weigh-in before the bout, she was declared disqualified for being over weight .
This disqualification meant she couldn’t compete in the final against USA’s Sarah Hildebrandt.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) released a statement expressing deep regret over Phogat’s disqualification. “Despite exhaustive efforts by the team through the night, Vinesh Phogat weighed slightly over 50kg this morning,” the statement read. “No further comments will be made by the contingent at this time. The Indian team requests respect for Vinesh’s privacy as they focus on the remaining competitions.”
Phogat had successfully made the weight for the initial day of competition but was just over the 50kg limit on Wednesday morning. According to wrestling regulations, any wrestler failing the weigh-in at any stage—whether before the preliminaries, repechage, or final rounds—is disqualified from the event.
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi took to X (formerly twitter) to express his support, he wrote, “Vinesh, you are a champion among champions! You are India’s pride and an inspiration for each and every Indian. Today’s setback hurts. I wish words could express the sense of despair that I am experiencing. At the same time, I know that you epitomise resilience. It has always been your nature to take challenges head on. Come back stronger! We are all rooting for you.”
Vinesh, you are a champion among champions! You are India’s pride and an inspiration for each and every Indian.
Today’s setback hurts. I wish words could express the sense of despair that I am experiencing.
At the same time, I know that you epitomise resilience. It has always…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 7, 2024
Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, also wrote, “Vinesh Phogat’s setback in the Olympics has certainly broken the hopes of millions of Indians. She has a brilliant sporting career, shining with the glory of defeating the world champion. This misfortune is merely an exception in her trailblazing career, from which I am sure she will bounce back to be the winner she always is. Our best wishes and support are always with her.”
Vinesh Phogat’s setback in the Olympics has certainly broken the hopes of millions of Indians. She has a brilliant sporting career, shining with the glory of defeating the world champion. This misfortune is merely an exception in her trailblazing career, from which I am sure she…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 7, 2024
Tweets from several politicians, fans, well-wishers across the country showed their support to her.
Vinesh was supposed to take on the USA’s Sarah Hildebrandt, the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist, for the gold medal. Vinesh has been replaced by Cuba’s Yuznelis Guzman, who will fight for the top honour at the Champ-de-Mars Arena.
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