In an unexpected turn of events, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from the Paris Olympics after failing to make weight on the morning of her 50kg gold medal bout. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) issued a statement expressing regret over the disqualification, noting that despite overnight efforts, Phogat weighed in slightly over the 50kg limit. The team has requested privacy for Phogat as they continue to focus on the ongoing competitions.
PM Modi took to social media, to encourage and express his support to the wrestler. “Vinesh, you are a champion among champions! You are India’s pride and an inspiration for each and every Indian,” 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…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 7, 2024
Sources revealed that Phogat was approximately 100 grams over the permissible weight limit, leading to her disqualification. According to competition rules, she will not be eligible for a silver medal, resulting in only gold and bronze medal winners in the 50kg category. Despite successfully making weight for Tuesday’s bouts, wrestlers are required to maintain their weight category on both competition days.
The Indian Express reports that Phogat, who defied the odds to reach the final, was around 2 kilos overweight on Tuesday night. She spent the night attempting to shed the excess weight through rigorous exercise but fell short by a small margin. The Indian delegation’s plea for additional time to meet the weight requirement was denied.
This is not the first time Phogat has struggled with the 50kg weight class, which is lower than her usual 53kg category. She faced similar challenges during the Olympic qualifiers, narrowly making the cut. On Tuesday, Phogat made history as the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final, defeating top-ranked Yui Susaki of Japan and securing victories against wrestlers from Ukraine and Cuba. She was set to face Sarah Hildebrandt in the final, a wrestler she has a favorable record against. However, with Phogat’s disqualification, Hildebrandt will now be awarded the gold medal, leaving Phogat without a medal.
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