Source – lagatar24.com
Disqualification Announcement
In a disappointing turn of events for India, wrestler Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from the Women’s 50kg freestyle wrestling event at the Olympics. This disqualification occurred just as Phogat was set to compete in the gold medal match. Despite her impressive performance and reaching the final, Phogat was found to be overweight by a few grams during the final weigh-in. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announced the disqualification with regret, stating that the team had made every effort to address the issue overnight but could not bring her weight down to the required limit.
Phogat’s Remarkable Journey and Disqualification Details
Vinesh Phogat had a remarkable journey leading up to the final. She defeated the World No.1 and Tokyo 2020 champion Yui Susaki from Japan to advance to the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, Phogat continued her winning streak by overcoming Ukraine’s Oksana Livach with a score of 7-5, securing her place in the semifinals. There, she triumphed over Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez, thus becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final. Unfortunately, the joy of her achievements was overshadowed by the disqualification due to her being 100 grams over the weight limit.
Reactions and Impact
The Indian Olympic Association expressed their disappointment and requested respect for Vinesh Phogat’s privacy during this challenging time. The statement highlighted the team’s efforts to rectify the situation, but ultimately, the additional weight could not be reduced. Phogat, who typically competes in the 53kg category, faced similar weight management issues during the Olympic qualifiers but managed to overcome them. Reports indicate that Phogat spent the night before the final jogging and skipping to shed the excess weight but was unsuccessful. With India currently holding three bronze medals, Phogat’s disqualification is particularly disheartening as her assured medal was anticipated to be either silver or gold.
