Vinesh Phogat Disqualified from Paris Olympics: Heartbreak in the 50kg Women’s Wrestling Final

Paris: In a heartbreaking turn of events, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from the Paris Olympics just before her 50kg gold medal bout due to a failure to make weight.

“It is with regret that the Indian contingent shares news of the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the Women’s Wrestling 50kg class,” the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said in a statement. “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.”

Sources reveal that Phogat was approximately 100 grams over the permissible limit, which led to her disqualification. According to competition rules, Phogat will not be eligible for a silver medal, leaving the 50kg category with only gold and bronze medal winners.

Phogat had successfully made weight for Tuesday’s bouts but, as per regulations, wrestlers must stay within their weight category on both days of the competition. Despite staying up all night and engaging in strenuous activities such as jogging, skipping, and cycling to shed the extra weight, she could not meet the criteria.

The Indian delegation reportedly pleaded for additional time to shed the last 100 grams, but their request was denied. This is not the first time Phogat has struggled to make weight in the 50kg category, a lower weight class compared to her usual 53kg. She faced a similar ordeal during the Olympic qualifiers, narrowly making the cut.

Phogat’s journey to the final was nothing short of extraordinary. She became the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the final of the Olympics, defeating the world number one and odds-on favorite Yui Susaki of Japan, followed by two more tactical victories over wrestlers from Ukraine and Cuba.

She was set to face Sarah Hildebrandt in the final, a wrestler against whom Phogat has a favorable head-to-head record. However, with her disqualification, the American will now be awarded the gold medal, and Phogat will return home empty-handed.

The news has sent shockwaves through the Indian camp and the wrestling community worldwide, marking a devastating end to what could have been a historic achievement for Vinesh Phogat.