Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the women’s 50kg wrestling final at the Paris Olympics, reducing India’s prospects of capturing a gold medal. The 29-year-old was ruled unable to compete on the second day after being discovered 100 grams overweight at the weigh-in on the day of the final.
Unfortunately, Vinesh Phogat will not win a medal in the Paris Olympics if his disqualification stands. Despite Vinesh Phogat’s team’s best efforts on Tuesday night, the wrestler failed to meet the weight limit on Wednesday.
It has emerged that there is no way to alter the judgment, and Vinesh Phogat will return home without a medal. According to the world wrestling body, any wrestler who misses the weight is given the last place.
Vinesh Phogat was in the 50kg permissible limit on Tuesday. She stunned World No. 1 Yui Susaki in the opening round before working her way through in the quarter-final and the semi-final to become the first-ever Indian woman to reach the Olympic wrestling final.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA), in an official statement, confirmed the disqualification. It also requested all stakeholders to ensure Vinesh Phogat’s privacy.
“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,” the Indian Olympic Association said in a statement.
On each day of competition, all boxers get a medical examination and weigh-in. Each fighter also receives a post-bout medical examination.
Notably, Vinesh competed in the women’s 53kg category when she returned to competition after a 15-month hiatus in January 2024. Vinesh even competed in the 53kg division at the Tokyo Olympics.
Over the previous two months, the wrestler worked really hard to maintain her weight and continue participating in the women’s 50kg category.
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Source: India Today
