Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the ladies’s 50kg ultimate on the Paris 2024 Olympics after being discovered obese by 100 grams through the weigh-in on Wednesday. This disqualification occurred simply hours after she had secured a spot within the gold medal match.
The Indian Olympic Affiliation (IOA) confirmed the disqualification, stating, “It’s with remorse that the Indian contingent shares information of the disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from the ladies’s Wrestling 50kg class. Regardless of one of the best efforts by the workforce by the night time, she weighed in a couple of grams over 50kg this morning.” The IOA additionally requested privateness for Phogat, who was competing in her third Olympics.
Phogat had made historical past by reaching the gold medal match after defeating defending champion Yui Susaki of Japan on Tuesday. She was scheduled to face American Sarah Ann Hildebrandt within the ultimate.
This disqualification leaves Phogat and not using a medal, as worldwide guidelines place any wrestler discovered obese on the backside of the ultimate standings. Moreover, Italy’s Emanuela Liuzzi was additionally disqualified from the 50kg class for a similar purpose on Tuesday.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to the disqualification by praising Phogat as a “champion amongst champions” and expressing confidence in her capacity to recuperate from the setback. Modi posted on X, “Vinesh, you’re a champion amongst champions! You might be India’s pleasure and an inspiration for every Indian. At this time’s setback hurts. I want phrases might categorical the sense of despair that I’m experiencing. On the identical time, I do know that you just epitomize resilience. It has all the time been your nature to take challenges head on.”