World
Vinesh Phogat Disqualified from Gold Medal Bout at Paris Olympics
Vinesh Phogat faces disqualification from her gold medal match at the Paris Olympics, raising questions about the event’s fairness and rules. Explore the details of this shocking turn of events in the world of wrestling.
The Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat faced a heartbreaking setback at the Paris Olympics when she was disqualified from competing for the gold medal after failing to make weight by a mere few grams. The announcement was made by the Indian Olympic Association on Wednesday.
Phogat, who has become one of the prominent faces in the fight against sexual harassment in sports, was set to face Sarah Hildebrandt of the United States for the gold medal in the 50-kilogram weight class. This match was highly anticipated, particularly given Phogat’s significant contributions to raising awareness about the issues of athlete safety and integrity.
Early on Wednesday morning, the Indian Olympic Association revealed on social media platform X that “despite the best efforts by the team through the night, she weighed in a few grams over 50 kilograms this morning.” This unfortunate incident dashed her hopes of Olympic glory.
Last year, Phogat was one of three notable Indian wrestlers who bravely accused Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the then-president of India’s wrestling federation, of sexual harassment. Along with Olympic medalists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, Phogat led a series of public protests to advocate for the rights of seven young female wrestlers who had reported harassment. Their protest camp was violently dismantled by police, and the wrestlers were forcibly taken into custody.
In a dramatic turn of events, Phogat and her fellow athletes threatened to throw their hard-earned medals, including two Olympic bronzes, into the Ganges River as a statement against the injustices they faced.
As the situation unfolded, the Olympics website updated its information to reflect that Hildebrandt will now compete against Yusneylis Guzmán Lopez from Cuba, who had previously lost to Phogat in the semifinal, for the coveted gold medal.
Reacting to Phogat’s disqualification, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep disappointment. In a heartfelt statement on X, he said, “My heart goes out to Vinesh. I wish words could express the sense of despair that I am experiencing.”