It’s a sad day for Indians as our hopes for an Olympic gold medal were marred. Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the Olympic 50kg women’s wrestling finals. The reason – she was 100 grams overweight. Until this morning, there were hopes of her bringing at least the silver medal home. Now, there are none.
Several Indian athletes, some of them having previously won an Olympic medal, reacted strongly to Vinesh Phogat being disqualified from the Olympics.
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Sakshi Malik, former freestyle wrestler and Olympic bronze medalist, called this the “most devastating incident”.
“My heart is nervous and troubled, what Vinesh has done is beyond imagination. This is perhaps the most devastating incident to happen to an Indian athlete in this Olympics. We can’t even imagine what she might be going through. If it was possible, I would have given my medal to Vinesh,” said Sakshi Malik.
Boxer and Olympic bronze medalist Vijendra Singh called it a “huge conspiracy against Indian wrestlers”. He strongly expressed his doubts at the fairness of the decision made by the International Olympic Association.
“It’s a huge conspiracy against India and Indian wrestlers. The way she has performed is worth appreciating. Maybe some people couldn’t digest the happiness. We can reduce five to six kgs in one night, so what’s the problem with 100 grams. I feel that someone had some problems and so the step to disqualify was taken. She should have got a chance to reduce the 100 grams. Having participated in the Olympics, I have never seen anything like this,” Vijendra Singh said.
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Former world no. 1 badminton player Saina Nehwal claimed that a mistake has been made on Vinesh’s part too and she must take the blame. She expressed how Vinesh should have known the rules, considering this is her third time playing at the Olympics.
“She is an experienced athlete. Somewhere there has been a mistake on Vinesh’s part too. She should take the blame too. Before such a big match, such a mistake is not right. She knows what is right or wrong. I don’t know the details of wrestling. I don’t know if there has been any appeal in Olympics which resulted in something significant. She knows the rule. I don’t know what mistake she did, that too on the final day. I have always seen her working very hard. She gives her 100%. It is not like she is playing her first Olympics. It’s her third Olympics. As an athlete, she must know the rules. If there has been a mistake, I don’t know how it happened. At such a big stage, I have not heard any such thing about any other wrestler, that they have been disqualified due to being overweight,” Saina Nehwal said.
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Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra showered his support on the wrestler and called her a “true champion”.
Completely gutted . Sometimes u dont need a gold medal to be a true champion to people….
— Abhinav A. Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) August 7, 2024
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Fellow wrestler Bajrang Punia, who has been a strong ally of Vinesh Phogat throughout, expressed his disbelief at the entire incident and urged women wrestlers participating in the Olympics to stand in solidarity with Vinesh.
“Vinesh you are a gold medalist of courage and morality You are a daughter of the soil and hence this medal also belongs to the soil. You fought with great courage. Yesterday when the Olympic officials weighed you before playing, your weight was absolutely perfect. No one wants to believe what happened this morning. 100 grams. I can’t believe that this has happened to you. The whole country is unable to hold back its tears. Olympic medals of all countries are on one side and your medal is on the other. Every person in the world was praying for you. Every woman in the world felt this medal was like a personal medal. I wish these voices of all the women of the world reach the right place. I hope that all the women wrestlers of the world participating in the Olympics will stand in solidarity with Vinesh,” wrote Bajrang Punia.
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विनेश तुम हिम्मत और नैतिकता की गोल्ड मेडलिस्ट होमाटी की बेटी हो इसलिए ये मेडल भी माटी का है. बहुत हौसले से लड़ी हो. कल जब खेलने से पहले ओलंपिक ऑफिशियल्स ने आपका वजन लिया तो आपका वजन एकदम परफेक्ट था.
आज सुबह जो हुआ उसपर कोई यकीन नहीं करना चाहता.
100 ग्राम. यकीन ही नहीं…
— Bajrang Punia ?? (@BajrangPunia) August 7, 2024
Olympic silver-medal-winning badminton champion PV Sidhu stood in support as well and said that Phogat is a “champion in our eyes”.
“Dear Vinesh Phogat, you will always be a champion in our eyes. I was deeply hoping you could win the gold. The little time I spent with you at PDCSE was watching a woman with a superhuman will fight to get better. It was inspiring. I am here for you always, sending all the universe’s positivity your way,” wrote PV Sindhu.
Dear @Phogat_Vinesh, you will always be a champion in our eyes. I was deeply hoping you could win the gold. The little time I spent with you at PDCSE was watching a woman with a superhuman will fight to get better. It was inspiring. I am here for you always, sending all the…
— Pvsindhu (@Pvsindhu1) August 7, 2024
Nikhat Zareen, boxer and a two-time world champion, shared how she was “deeply heartbroken” after learning about the news and called it the “hardest experience an athlete could face”.
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“I’m deeply heartbroken after learning about my friend Vinesh Phogat. It’s a cruel twist of fate, and no one can truly understand the depth of her suffering right now. After losing my own Olympic bout, I thought that was the hardest experience an athlete could face, but seeing what Vinesh is going through makes my pain seem insignificant. My heart is aching. Just last night, I was in tears watching her win the semifinals and eagerly anticipating seeing her on the Olympic podium. But this morning, everything was shattered overnight. Vinesh, you’ve always been an inspiration and a true champion. Stay strong. I believe in you, and I’m here for you every step of the way,” posted Nikhat Zareen.
I’m deeply heartbroken after learning about my friend @Phogat_Vinesh . It’s a cruel twist of fate, and no one can truly understand the depth of her suffering right now. After losing my own Olympic bout, I thought that was the hardest experience an athlete could face, but seeing… pic.twitter.com/tsuvf64t7C
— Nikhat Zareen (@nikhat_zareen) August 7, 2024
Joydeep Karmakar, an Indian sports shooter from Kolkata and Arjuna Award recipient, asked why Vinesh was completely out of the medal contention.
“Not sure about how it works, but this could not be more painful for all of us! Can’t even guess what she is feeling! But isn’t the weight count for the day of match? If she was under 50 kg yesterday, is it not a legit win, then why out of medal contention?” asked Joydeep Karmakar.
Not sure about how it works, but this could not be more painful for all of us! Can’t even guess what she is feeling! But isn’t the weight count for the day of match? If she was under 50 kg yesterday, is it not a legit win, then why out of medal contention? #vineshphogat…
— Joydeep Karmakar OLY (@Joydeep709) August 7, 2024
Despite not winning a medal, Vinesh Phogat has inspired millions of Indians with her hard work and grit, and nothing can change that.