Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Paris Olympics for failing to meet the weight requirements on the morning of her 50 kg gold medal battle.
“With sadness, the Indian contingent announces Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the Women’s Wrestling 50kg class.
Despite the team’s best efforts all night, she weighed a few grams more than 50kg this morning. The contingent will not make any additional statements at this time. The Indian team demands that you respect Vinesh’s privacy. It would prefer to focus on the competitions at hand,” according to an Indian Olympic Association statement.
Tokyo 2020 champion and world no. 1 Yui Susaki had been defeated by Vinesh Phogat.
Vinesh faced Oksana Livach of Ukraine later in the quarterfinals and defeated her 7–5 to advance to the semi-finals. She proceeded to defeat Yusneylis Guzman Lopez of Cuba in the penultimate match, earning a medal and making history as the first Indian woman wrestler to make it to the Olympic final.
“The Indian contingent regretfully informs you that Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from the 50kg women’s wrestling competition. She weighed in a few grams over 50 kg this morning, despite the team’s best efforts during the night.
Before tonight’s gold medal match between Phogat and his opponent, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said that “no additional comments will be made by the contingent at this time.”
According to ANI sources,
PM Narendra Modi called with Usha and asked her for first-hand information on the situation and the choices available to India following Vinesh’s loss.
She has been instructed by Modi to look into every avenue to support Vinesh’s case. In addition, he asked PT Usha to lodge a robust complaint against her disqualification if doing so will benefit Vinesh.
According to the tournament rules, she will not be eligible for a silver medal, leaving just gold and bronze medalists in the 50 kg division.
According to a PTI report quoting an Indian coach, Phogat was discovered to be 100gm overweight this morning.
India has three bronze medals to its name, and Phogat’s secured medal represented a chance for a silver or gold.
Vinesh Phogat’s Run to the Final
Phogat, who has been embroiled in controversy for the past year, got off to a flying start at the Paris Olympics, defeating reigning world champion Yui Susaki of Japan in the first round of the Women’s 50kg Freestyle category.
Her victory also represented the top-seeded Japanese Susaki’s first loss on international circuits, as she did not drop a single point en route to her hold at the Tokyo Games in 2020.
