- Thursday, September 19, 2024
Phogat was set to fight Sarah Hildebrandt of the United States for the gold medal, but the disqualification will deprive her of any medal
By: Shajil Kumar
The disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat for being overweight just hours before the women’s 50kg freestyle final at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday broke the hearts of many Indians.
She was set to fight Sarah Hildebrandt of the United States for the gold medal, but the disqualification will deprive her of any medal. She reportedly weighed 100gm more than the permitted limit.
What do the rules say?
As per the Olympic rules, the wrestling competition is held across two days and on both days, competing wrestlers must undergo weight checks.
On the first day of the competition, the wrestler needs to get his/her weight measured multiple times in a 30-minute window.
Also, the medical examination should clear them of any contagious diseases, their nails need to be clipped.
Those who qualify for the gold medal, bronze medal play-offs, and repechage bouts again have to come for weigh in on the second day.
But on the second day, the window for weigh-in is only 15 minutes, and on the morning of the competition. This is where Vinesh’s weight was found to be 50.1 kg. Once the 15-minute window was over, Vinesh’s medal hopes were dashed.
IOA reaction
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said, “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.”
IOA President PT Usha expressed dismay at Phogat’s disqualification and promised her that the association, the government, and the country would fully support her.
She said the Wrestling Federation of India had filed an appeal with the United World Wrestling (UWW) and was fiercely pursuing the matter.
Shortly after she got disqualified, the 29-year-old wrestler was hospitalised after she collapsed due to dehydration.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described her as a “champion among champions” on social media platform X.
“Today’s setback hurts. I wish words could express the sense of despair that I am experiencing. At the same time, I know that you epitomise resilience. It has always been your nature to take challenges head on. Come back stronger! We are all rooting for you,” Modi wrote.
Interestingly, the prime minister’s handle did not issue any post when she won three matches to storm into the final.
Phogat was one of several Indian wrestlers who came out in protest last year seeking criminal action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, then chief of the Wrestling Federation of India and a member of Bharatiya Janata Party.
Hence, she was often attacked by the ruling party members and social media trolls supporting the party
On Tuesday, Phogat became the first Indian female wrestler to reach the final of 50kg Olympics wrestling by winning three matches.
She defeated Cuban wrestler Yusneylis Guzman Lopez in the semi-finals, Oksana Livach of Ukraine in the quarter-final and world champion Yui Susaki of Japan in the pre-quarterfinal.
Soon after the disqualification, Lopez of Cuba was nominated for the final.
Walkout in Parliament
The disqualification issue sparked a heated debate in the Parliament.
The government claimed that the Indian Olympic Association has lodged a strong protest with the United World Wrestling and the Prime Minister has asked IOA chief to take “appropriate action” in the matter.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in the Lok Sabha that the government had provided all possible assistance to Phogat according to her requirement which included personal staff.
However, his detailing of the financial assistance provided to Phogat for her Olympic preparations angered the opposition leaders. Mandaviya claimed that a total financial assistance of ₹7 million was spent for her Paris Olympics preparations.
Opposition parties such as the Congress, TMC and the Samajwadi Party expressed dissatisfaction with the minister’s reply and walked out of the House.
They also held a demonstration in front of Makar Dwar in Parliament.
Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala told reporters that the prime minister’s ‘consolation tweet’ will not do and he should ensure that justice is done.
He said it was a part of conspiracy. “First that daughter was dragged on the streets of Delhi and now when she has been disqualified, while the government is mum. This points to a conspiracy. This is a black day in the history of sports in India,” he said.
AAP called wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the Olympics an “insult” to the country and demanded that the Indian contingent boycott the games if the situation demands.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, in a post on X in Hindi, said, “This is not an insult to Vinesh but to the country, @Phogat_Vinesh was going to create history in the whole world, declaring her 100 grams overweight and disqualifying her is grave injustice. The whole country stands with Vinesh, the Indian government should intervene immediately, if they are not heard, we should boycott the Olympics.”
Sportspersons support Phogat
Many former sportspersons and Olympians also came out in her support.
Former boxer and 2008 Olympic medallist Vijender Singh told a TV channel that he had never seen or heard of anything that happened with the Indian wrestler in Paris.
He said the Indian contingent in Paris should retaliate and withdraw from the ongoing games.
“We need to raise objections and protest and should pack our bags and come back to India, maybe then they will realise. How can she go ahead and eat when she knows that she is this close to winning a medal?
Former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar said India must protest “very strongly” against the “unfortunate” disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat.
Gavaskar said that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as well as the Indian government must do everything possible to address this.
“I think it’s (the) most unfortunate. I also think it’s (the) most unfair. I do hope that the authorities will take notice of it, take a strong response to this because this is not just the initial round,” he told reporters.
“We’re talking about the world medal round and therefore this cannot and should not be taken lying down by anybody in India whether it’s the Indian Olympic Association or the government of India.
Shooter Abhinav Bindra, who won India’s first individual Olympic gold in 2008, said he was “completely gutted”.
“Sometimes you don’t need a gold medal to be a true champion to people,” he added.
Rio Olympic bronze medallist wrestler Sakshi Malik called it “devastating”. “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,” Malik wrote.
Boxer Nikhat Zareen said she was “deeply heartbroken” by what happened to Vinesh Phogat.
She wrote on X, “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.”
