Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from the Paris Olympics 2024 due to being slightly overweight.
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s Olympic medal was ripped away in the cruelest of twists of fate when she failed to make weight on the morning of the final in the women’s 50kg category. She will be disqualified from the tournament, not permitted to compete in the final, and possibly stripped of the silver medal. The athlete, her coaches, and support staff attempted everything, including drastic measures such as chopping her hair and drawing blood, but their efforts failed to produce the desired effects.
According to UWW rules, “If an athlete does not attend or fails the weigh in, he or she will be eliminated from the competition and ranked last without rank.”
Vinesh advanced to the finals after defeating Yui Susaki for the first time in international competition and then defeating Oksana Livach and Yuznelys Guzman in the semis.Vinesh’s disqualification means she will not earn any medals at the Paris Games. Despite being assured of a silver, Vinesh’s disqualification means she will have to return home empty-handed.
Vinesh’s first match at the Paris Games was undoubtedly the most difficult one. She was up against Japanese wrestler Yui Susaki, who had never lost a match in her international career and was a four-time global Olympic champion. But then Vinesh happened.
Vinesh’s hardships off the field helped her gather power and utilize a great game plan to stun the defending Olympic champion in one of the Games’ most shocking upsets.
Vinesh then defeated Ukraine’s Oksana Livach to go to the semifinals of the women’s 50kg freestyle event. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but the job was far from finished.
Vinesh defeated Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez in the semifinals to secure a medal and become the first Indian female wrestler to reach the Olympics final.
However, Vinesh’s ambitions, as well as those of 1.4 billion Indians, were dashed early Tuesday morning.
