Sports

Vinesh Phogat disqualified from women’s 50kg wrestling at Paris Olympics; PM Modi expresses support

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat disqualified from Paris Olympics due to weight violation

August 7, 2024

PM Modi asks IOA to file ‘strong protest’ against Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification

In a significant blow to Indian wrestling, Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from the women’s 50kg wrestling event at the Paris Olympics. The disqualification occurred on Wednesday morning after Phogat was found to be “a few grams over” the permissible weight limit during the weigh-in.

Moreover, the Indian grappler will be placed last in the as per UWW rules.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to the news with deep sympathy, expressing his heartfelt support for Phogat. In a message on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi conveyed his sense of despair over the setback and urged Phogat to return stronger.

“Vinesh, you are a champion among champions! You are India’s pride and an inspiration for each and every Indian. Today’s setback hurts. I wish words could express the sense of despair that I am experiencing,” Modi said.

PM Modi also hailed Phogat’s resilience and lauded her for taking challenges head-on.

“I know that you epitomize resilience. It has always been your nature to take challenges head-on. “Come back stronger! We are all rooting for you,” PM Modi further said.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announced the disqualification in a statement, expressing regret over the development. The statement read, “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.”

Phogat, a prominent figure in Indian wrestling, has been a key competitor for the country, and her disqualification is a major setback for the Indian team.

Vinesh on Tuesday became the first Indian woman wrestler to reach the final of an Olympic Games after she defeated Cuba’s Yusneylys Guzman 5-0 in the semifinal.

She started her campaign by stunning world No. 1, Japan’s four-time World Champion and Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Yui Susaki, who was undefeated in 95 international matches, in her entire career as a wrestler.

Vinesh then advanced to her maiden semifinals after beating Ukraine’s Oksana Vasylivna Livach 7-5 in her second bout of the day.

The Indian contingent’s focus now shifts to the ongoing competitions, with a request for privacy extended to Phogat during this challenging time.

The sources from the Prime Minister’s Office said that the PM had a word with Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha and “sought first-hand information” on the issue and “the options India has in the wake of Vinesh’s setback.”

The PM also asked the IOA chief to explore the full range of options to help Vinesh’s case and urged the former athlete to file a “strong protest regarding her disqualification if that helps Vinesh.”

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