Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was poised to secure gold for India in the 50 kg freestyle wrestling category at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The stage was set for her historic moment on Wednesday, August 7th. However, fate dealt a cruel blow.
Heartbreak for Vinesh Phogat at Paris Olympics
On the morning of her gold medal bout, Vinesh Phogat was found to be overweight in the women’s 50kg category. The medical control and weigh-in for each weight category occur on the first competition day. Wrestlers who qualify for the finals and repechage are weighed in again on the second competition day. Unfortunately, Vinesh exceeded the 50kg limit.
Wrestling rules dictate that if a wrestler fails the weigh-in on either day of the competition (preliminaries, repechage, and final rounds), they are eliminated from the event. Despite her remarkable journey to the final—defeating top seed Yui Susaki of Japan, former European champion Oksana Livach of Ukraine, and reigning Pan American Games champion Yusneylis Guzman of Cuba—Vinesh’s dream was shattered.
Vinesh Phogat was slated to face USA’s Sarah Hildebrandt in the final. However, her disqualification altered the course of the competition. Hildebrandt now competes for the gold medal, while Yui Susaki and Oksana Livach vie for bronze. Vinesh’s chance at Olympic glory slipped away due to a few grams over the weight limit.
Following the Court of Arbitration for Sports’ (CAS) decision to reject her appeal for a joint-silver medal, Vinesh Phogat broke her silence. She shared an emotional Instagram post, expressing her disappointment and determination to fight for justice.
Vinesh Phogat shares heartbreaking photo on Instagram after CAS rejects joint-silver medal appeal !#VineshPhogat #wrestling #cas #olympics2024 #Paris2024 #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/pON6WAN0uy
— SportsIndiaShow (@SportsIndiaShow) August 16, 2024
In this heart-wrenching saga, Vinesh Phogat’s journey from triumph to setback serves as a stark reminder of the fine margins that separate victory from defeat in the world of sports. Her resilience and spirit, even in the face of adversity, inspire us all.
Also Read: BCCI’s new NCA is open For Non-Cricketers And Olympians Like Neeraj Chopra, Says Jay Shah
